The Family Law Act does not stipulate a specific age a child must be in order for their wishes to be taken into consideration. According to previously decided cases, the court will take a child’s wishes into account at about 12 years of age.

What age can a child say who they want to live with in California?

14 years
While no law permits the child to choose their custody status, most California courts believe 14 years of age is old enough to express themselves and the reasons why they prefer one parent over the other.

Can a child speak in court?

Minors’ counsel become the child’s voice in court and are usually appointed in complex cases, such as child abuse, child neglect, drug related cases, high conflict divorces or other cases the Court deems appropriate.

Can an 11 year old choose which parent to live with?

Although the law specifically permits children at least 14-years-old to express an opinion, there is no specific age when a judge will listen to a child’s opinion. California statutes also permit a child younger than 14 years old to testify regarding a custodial preference, unless the court decides it’s not in the …

What questions does a judge ask a child?

Here are some questions that a judge may ask during a child custody hearing:

• What Is Your Financial Status?
• What Type of Custody Arrangement Are You Seeking?
• How Is Communication With the Other Parent?
• Do You Have Any Existing Arrangements?

  How old does a child have to be to speak in court?

  If a child is age 14 or older and wants to address the court regarding his or her wishes, the Judge now has to either allow him or her to do so, or make a specific finding regarding why that would not be in the child’s best interest.

  When do kids have a say in California child custody?

  At what age can the child speak for himself? While no law permits the child to choose their custody status, most California courts believe 14 years of age is old enough to express themselves and the reasons why they prefer one parent over the other.

  How is new California law may affect child Cust-guides?

  (c) If the child is 14 years of age or older and wishes to address the court regarding custody or visitation, the child shall be permitted to do so, unless the court determines that doing so is not in the child’s best interests.

  When does a judge listen to a child’s preference?

  There is no specific age when a judge will listen to a child’s opinion. Courts have considered the custodial preferences of children as young as seven or eight. The court doesn’t have to follow the child’s preference; the judge decides how much weight to give to the child’s preference.