How old does a child need to be to decide which parent they live with?

How old does a child need to be to decide which parent they live with?

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. This is not the case.

What do I do if my child doesn’t want to see a parent?

Talk to your child about why they don’t want to go Try to get to the bottom of why your child doesn’t want to spend time or stay with your co-parent. Let your child express their feelings to you without judgment. When it’s your turn to respond, do so with kindness and understanding.

What do I do if my child refuses to visit the father?

You do have to physically take the child to the place of handover as ordered by the Court. It is not enough to simply take the child to handover. If the child says they do not want to go, you have a positive obligation to encourage the child to spend time with the other parent.

What happens if a child doesn’t want to live with either parent?

Talk with a Legal Representative In addition, your child may be able to tell the court that he/she doesn’t want to live with you, but that doesn’t mean the court will rule in his/her favor. Instead, your child’s wishes will simply be recorded, but no change will be done in a legal setting.

Can a 10 year old decide which parent to live with UK?

When a child reaches the age of 16 they are legally able to decide where they wish to live unless there is a residence order or child arrangements order specifying living arrangements which lasts until a young person is 18.

Can a 13 year old decide where they want to live?

It is absolutely wrong to assume or tell a child that they get to decide where he or she will live once they turn 12 years old. Once your child turns 18 and is a legal adult, then a custody order does not apply and they can decide where to live. The closer your child gets to age 18, the more he or she has a say.

Can a 15 year old decide where they want to live?

How old does a child have to be to decide where and with which parent they want to live? As the child gets older, his or her wishes carry more weight. By 15 or 16 if the child is of general maturity and has logical reasons for changing the custody, the court will often abide by the child’s wishes.

At what age will a judge listen to a child in NC?

If a child is old enough and mature enough — and usually that’s in the 10, 11, 12 age range — then the judge will hear from the child.

What makes a parent unfit in NC?

The legal definition of an unfit parent is when the parent through their conduct fails to provide proper guidance, care, or support. Also, if there is abuse, neglect, or substance abuse issues, that parent will be deemed unfit.

Is NC A 50/50 custody State?

A trial court can award equal custody to both parties, or grant one party primary custody and the other visitation privileges. In actuality, North Carolina judges rarely award a 50/50 split of time that a child resides with each parent.

What is the legal age to leave a child home alone in NC?

“North Carolina General Statute section 14-318 states that a parent or legal guardian cannot leave a child under the age of eight (8) locked or confined, unsupervised, in any dwelling, building, etc. as to expose the child to danger by fire. To violate the statute is a Class 1 misdemeanor.

Is it OK to leave a 7 year old home alone?

Only mature kids can manage the responsibility of being home alone. Usually, a 7 or 8-year-old can stay home alone for 30 minutes or so while you run an errand. By the time they’re 10, most children can (probably) handle being on their own during a day for a few hours, though you shouldn’t do it daily.

Can a 12 year old babysit in NC?

There is no juvenile statute in North Carolina concerning the age at which a child may be left unattended in North Carolina. However, North Carolina Fire Code (General Statutes Section 14-318) states a child under eight years of age may not be left alone due to risk of fire.

Can a 12 year old babysit a 5 year old?

“There’s no set age when kids are ready to babysit. “Most children could probably be left home for varying lengths of time between ages 10 to 12,” she said. “It depends on how long and the maturity level of the child. For some children it may be older.”