Can a 13 year old decide who they want to live with?

Can a 13 year old decide who they want to live with?

A child does not get to dictate who they live with or the terms of visitation until they are of the age of majority. Their wishes are a factor that a court will consider, and the older they are the more likely a court will consider the wishes.

When can a child make a decision to live with a parent?

There is a common misconception that in Family Law parenting disputes about with whom a child will live, a child will have the deciding vote when they reach the age of 12.

What do I do if my child wants to live with the non custodial parent?

If there is no custody order in place, then the child can live with the non-custodial parent without having to involve the court. If there is a custody order in place, that order would need to be modified. In some states, custody may be modified at any time.

Can a 10 year old decide not to see a parent?

In the majority of states, including Texas, children under the age of 18 cannot legally make the decision themselves whether or not to see their parent.

Why do fathers walk away after divorce?

The pain of being repeatedly reminded of both their failure and what they have lost drives them away. They push away from the pain and anger caused by a situation they cannot control and in the process abandon the children they love. They become “ghost dads.”