In law, there is no fixed age that determines when a child can express a preference as to where they want to live. However, legally, a child cannot decide who they want to live with until they are 16 years old. Once a child reaches the age of 16, they are legally allowed to choose which parent to live with.
Can a 12 year old decide not to see a parent?
Legally, Your Child Can Refuse Visitation at Age 18
When your child reaches 18, he or she is an adult. Adults can decide who they spend time with. … Actually, the law allows children to have a say in who they want to live with beginning at age 12. But that is a separate issue from whether a child can halt parenting time.
Can my child refuse to see her father UK?
Can I refuse contact? Contact should only be refused where there is very good reason for doing so, for instance if there is an issue of safety or violence, when contact could be refused. Refusal to allow a parent to have contact is likely to result in an application being made to court.
Can a child refuse to see their father?
In cases where parents can’t agree, a judge will decide visitation and custody based on the child’s best interests. … Both parents are bound by the terms of a custody order. If your child refuses to go to visits with the other parent, you could still be on the hook for failing to comply with a custody order.
At what age will the courts listen to a child UK?
The government has made the commitment that from the age of 10, children and young people involved in all family court hearings in England and Wales will have access to judges to make their views and feelings known.
What happens if a child doesn’t want to visit the other parent?
A parent who refuses to allow the other parent to see the child or fails to follow the terms of a custody order could face contempt charges. The parent missing out on visitation can file an Order to Show Cause with the court stating that the other parent is preventing visits.
What happens if a child doesn’t want to visit the other parent UK?
However, if your child refuses, the non-resident parent could apply to the Court and the resident parent could be held in contempt of Court. If your child regularly refuses contact with the other parent, you can apply to the Court for variation of the order or to have it discharged.
What age can a child refuse to see their father?
What age can a child decide not to visit a non-custodial parent in California? A child must be over the age of 16 to refuse to visit a noncustodial parent.
At what age can a child decide they don’t want to visit a parent?
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 …
At what age can a child decide not to visit a parent?
Can a child choose not to visit a parent? The mere age of your child will not determine your family law matter. There have been cases before the Court where a 17 year old child’s wishes were given limited weight because the basis for this child’s decision was not balanced.
Can a 17 year old decide where they want to live?
There is no ‘Magic Age‘
There is no fixed age when a child can decide on where they should live in a parenting dispute. Instead their wishes are one of many factors a court will consider in reaching a decision.
What age does a child have a say in visitation?
According to previously decided cases, the court will take a child’s wishes into account at about 12 years of age. The court may consider a child’s views between the ages of about 10 and 12, depending on the individual child.