What is the legal age for a child to chose which parent they want to live with?

Question

In the state of Arkansas

Answer 1

According to the website listed below, they can choose at 12. I think thats kind of the age that they start taking the child's preferences into consideration. The final decision still lies with the judge though.

Answer 2

Generally, there is no such age. The child does not choose the custodial parent; instead, the court makes the determination, based on the "best interests of the child." If the child was very young, like just a few months or years old, the court would not have the child testify, just because the process would be very confusing and traumatizing for the child. As the child gets older, the child's view carries more weight. However, other things can count against the child's views. For example, a child might be 17 but still the victim of such mental or physical abuse that she chooses to be with an abusive parent, in which case the judge would discount the child's view somewhat. Finally, after the child turns 18, she is an adult, and can choose to live with whoever they want to live with (or to live on their own) -- but that is just a matter of choice, not custody.

Answer 3

14

Answer 4

It depends jurisdiction to jurisdiction. I believe (don't quote me) that when kids reach a mature age (14? usually?) courts can ask the kid their preference, and take that into account when balancing the "best interests of the child" to determine custody (including family, roots, activities, parent best able to care, etc.) In some statse there may be a presumption that the kid's choice is in her best interests. I don't think there are any (or too many) jurisdictions that simply go with the kid's choice at a blanket age (that is, if the kid is under 18.)

Answer 5

Not sure about arkansas but i know i got to choose when i was 13 in the state of GA.

Answer 6

14

Answer 7

The child doesn't choose The court does. The older the child is, the more they will take the child's wishes into consideration, but the court has the final word on custody.
How old? It depends on the maturity of the child and that is handled on a case-by-case basis.

Answer 8

This vaires from state to state, but generally a family court judge will listen to what a child wants by 12 & up. This depends on their maturity somewhat as well.

Answer 9

I always thought that the child got to choose which parent they wanted to live with at any age. Or at least the one that is more stable. I know that if a child is being abused in one household, they go to another household (at least that's the way its supposed to work, but it doesn't always). Otherwise I would say around the ages of 12-14 since they're old enough to decide on their own.

Answer 10

Once they reach the legal age of majority, they are allowed to make this decision for themselves. Prior to achieving legal age of majority, courts MAY listen to a child's desires, but are not obligated to grant them what they want. It is still up to the court and what the judge views as being in the child's best interests.

AGE OF MAJORITY - The age when a person acquires all the rights and responsibilities of being an adult. In most states, the age is 18.

The time when the law allows persons to do acts which, for want of years, they were prohibited from doing before.

For males, before they arrive at fourteen years they are said not to be of discretion; at that age they may consent to marriage and choose a guardian. Twenty-one years is full age for all private purposes, and the may then exercise their rights as citizens by voting for public officers; and are eligible to all offices, unless otherwise provided for in the constitution. At 25, a man may be elected a representative in Congress; at 30, a senator; and at 35, he may be chosen president of the United States. He is liable to serve in the militia from 18 to 45. inclusive, unless exempted for some particular reason.

As to females, at 12, they arrive at years of discretion and may consent to marriage; at 14, they may choose a guardian; and 21, as in males, is fun Age, when they may exercise all the rights which belong to their sex.