How old does a child have to be to decide which parent they want to live with in Virginia?

How old does a child have to be to decide which parent they want to live with in Virginia?

The fact is, under Virginia child custody law, there is no “magic age” at which the child gets to make the decision as to which parent will have custody of him or her. In fact, the child does not make the decision on his or her own custody at any age under Virginia child custody law.

How old does a child have to be to decide which parent to live with in Kentucky?

There is no particular age when a child’s desire is honored as the deciding factor in determining which parent shall have custody. When making child custody decisions, Kentucky law states that the judge must do what is in the best interest of the child.

At what age can a child refuse visitation in Virginia?

18
What Age Can a Child Refuse Visitation in Virginia? Although judges are required by Virginia law to factor in a mature child’s preference when deciding child custody, the child can’t legally refuse visitation with either parent until the age of 18.

At what age is a child able to make decisions?

18 years of age
Visitation Decisions Depend on Age Legally, children can make their own decisions when they reach the age of majority, which is 18 years of age.

What is child preference?

Concepts concerning parental choice The child’s stated custodial preference can be understood primarily to be a psychological statement by the child of how he or she has resolved (or failed to resolve) the inevitable loyalty conflict that divorce and separation creates.

Can I choose to live with my dad at 13?

They appear to be uniformly surprised to learn that a minor child does not have the legal right to decide which parent to live with. Depending on the jurisdiction in which you live, the age of your child may matter only in terms of the weight a judge might give to a child’s preference, should he or she have one.

Can a 10 year old decide where to live?

If you have a child who is at least 12 years of age, they may be able to voice a preference on who they will live with. At the age of 12 child can display more of their maturity and are able to comprehend how a divorce will affect their future.

What do you say when your child wants to live with the other parent?

Say these 5 things for the good of your child.

  1. “This isn’t about me.” You don’t have to say this one out loud to your child, but you definitely need to hear it yourself.
  2. “I know this is hard.” As much as I wanted to tell my son, “You’re on vacation!
  3. “OK.
  4. “I’m sorry you feel that way, but…”
  5. “I’ll talk to your dad.”

At what age do you consider the child’s opinion?

There’s a presumption a child 12 or above is old enough. 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.