At What Age Can a Child Decide Where They Want to Live Usa

1 in 4 states don't require judge to consider child's custody preference

November 17, 2020 — Many separating parents mistakenly think their child can choose whom to live with.

In reality, Georgia is the only U.S. state that lets a child choose who takes physical custody of them. Even then, the child must be 14 or older, and their choice must be approved by a judge.

Thirteen states don't have statutes requiring a judge to consider a child's preference when deciding custody. All other states (plus Washington, D.C.) do; judges there must take the views of mature children into account.

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These findings come from an analysis of current state statutes by Custody X Change, which offers parents a web app for managing custody via parenting plans, calendars, expense tracking and more. (Scroll to end for full state-by-state data.)

"If you go to court over custody, you need to understand your state's approach to many topics, including a child's right to share their opinion," said Ben Coltrin, Custody X Change co-founder and president. "There's debate over what's more important: letting a child have a say or shielding them from parental disputes. How your state and judge view the issue will affect your case."

"There's debate over what's more important: letting a child have a say or shielding them from parental disputes."
-Ben Coltrin, Custody X Change president

It's important to note that most custody decisions are made by parents in settlement agreements; these parents can consider their child's opinion however they want. When parents can't reach agreement, then a judge decides what custody arrangement would serve the child's best interests.

Once the court issues a custody order, the child must comply. This means your son or daughter cannot refuse to see a parent who has been awarded custody or visitation time.

How old must a child be to weigh in?

All states allow judges to consider the preference of a child in a custody case, as long as the child is sufficiently mature. And, as we saw above, a large portion of states require judges to take a mature child's opinion into account.

So when is a child mature? Most states don't set a specific age, instead letting judges decide case by case.

When statutes do cite an age, 14 is most common. Three states (California, New Mexico and West Virginia) presume children 14 and older are sufficiently mature, while two (Indiana and Utah) give extra weight to the opinions of kids in this range.

Another four states (Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas) presume children 12 and up are mature enough to form a preference worth examining.

Georgia law sets the youngest age. It says children 11 and up can share their thoughts with the court. (And, remember, Georgia kids at least 14 years old can choose which parent to live with, although a judge can override the choice if necessary.)

All these states give judges leeway to hear from younger children who seem particularly mature.

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Overall, the older a child is, the more impact their wishes have on their custody case.

If your child is at least 14, a judge in any state is likely to hear what they have to say. On the other hand, a child in the single digits probably won't get to weigh in. Children between these two groups fall in a gray area, and whether they can provide input depends on their state, judge and maturity level.

Nationwide, children 14 and above can usually weigh in on custody rulings. Children 9 and under usually can't. The rest fall in a gray area.

How a child's opinion fits into the big picture

A judge never has to award custody according to a child's wishes. Other factors — such as each parent's criminal history and bond with the child — always come into play.

In addition, a judge tries to assess whether a child's preference for one parent is due to persuasion or leniency by that parent, which would give the preference less validity from the court's perspective.

For example, a 15-year-old may not get to live with her mom as she wishes if evidence shows the mother lets her drive without a license. In contrast, a 12-year-old with concrete reasons for preferring a suitable parent could have considerable influence on a judge's ruling.

How kids share their opinions

Children typically do not testify about their preferences in court because the experience can be emotional and frightening.

Instead, they usually share their thoughts in conversation with the judge, a custody evaluator or someone appointed by the court to represent their interests (like a guardian ad litem). In Georgia, a child who's at least 11 can turn in a written affidavit.

Interviews with the judge take place in the judge's office and are thus known as in-chambers or in-camera hearings. Generally, a court reporter and the child's legal representative attend. Sometimes the parents' attorneys are also allowed in but not the parents themselves.

Some judges ask the child directly whom they'd like to live with, while others only ask related questions like, "What do you do for fun with your mom?" In certain states, both parents must consent before the child may speak with a judge. Other factors that vary include whether parents can suggest questions for the interview and whether they can read the transcript.

State-by-state data

State	Judge must consider a mature child's opinion?	Age guidelines in the law
Alabama	Yes
Alaska	Yes
Arizona	Yes
Arkansas	No
California	Yes	A child 14 or older gets to address the court, unless the court determines it's not in the child's best interest. A child under 14 also gets to address the court if it's in their best interest.
Colorado	Yes
Connecticut	No
Delaware	Yes
Florida	No
Georgia	Yes	A child 14 or older has the right to select which parent they live with, unless a judge finds the selected parent does not serve the child's best interests. The judge considers the desires of a child at least 11 but not yet 14.
Hawaii	Yes
Idaho	No
Illinois	Yes
Indiana	Yes	The court considers the wishes of the child, with more consideration given if the child is at least 14.
Iowa	Yes
Kansas	Yes
Kentucky	Yes
Louisiana	Yes
Maine	Yes
Maryland	Yes
Massachusetts	Yes
Michigan	Yes
Minnesota	Yes
Mississippi	Yes	If the court considers both parents fit to have custody, the chancellor (judge) may consider the preference of a child 12 or older.
Missouri	Yes
Montana	No
Nebraska	Yes
Nevada	Yes
New Hampshire	No
New Jersey	Yes
New Mexico	Yes	If the child is 14 or older, the court considers their desires. If the child is under 14, the court decides custody per the child's best interests, considering factors like the child's wishes.
New York	No
North Carolina	No
North Dakota	Yes
Ohio	No
Oklahoma	Yes	The child gets to express a preference if the court finds this is in the child's best interest. The court considers the preference if the child is old enough to form an intelligent opinion. There's a presumption a child 12 or above is old enough.
Oregon	Yes
Pennsylvania	Yes
Rhode Island	Yes
South Carolina	Yes
South Dakota	No
Tennessee	Yes	The court considers the reasonable preference of a child 12 or older. The court may hear the preference of a younger child. An older child's preference is normally given greater weight.
Texas	Yes	A child 12 or older gets to speak with the court in private. A child under 12 may get to.
Utah	No	The court may consider the wishes of the child, considering the child's maturity. The desires of a child 14 or older get added weight.
Vermont	No
Virginia	Yes
Washington	Yes
Washington, D.C.	Yes
West Virginia	Yes	The court accommodates the preferences of a child 14 or older, if it's in the child's best interests. It also accommodates the preferences of a younger child mature enough to express an opinion, as long as this is in the child's best interests.
Wisconsin	Yes
Wyoming	No

At What Age Can a Child Decide Where They Want to Live Usa

Source: https://www.custodyxchange.com/topics/research/custody-preferences-children.php

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