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Difference between revisions of "Guardianship, Parenting Arrangements, and Contact"
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Guardianship, Parenting Arrangements, and Contact (view source)
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, 22:53, 12 May 2017→Can a child decide whom to live with?
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==Can a child decide whom to live with?== | ==Can a child decide whom to live with?== | ||
The Family Law Act requires that a child's views be considered, unless it would be inappropriate to do so. | The ''Family Law Act'' requires that a child's views be considered, unless it would be inappropriate to do so. | ||
If a child is old enough and mature enough, the judge will consider the child’s wishes when determining arrangements for custody, parenting time and contact. The importance given to the child’s views will depend on the age and maturity of the child, the reason why the child wishes to live with a particular person, and how strongly the child feels about wanting to live with that person. But there is no particular age at which children have the right to decide who they will live with. However, in general the older the child is, the more weight the court will give to the child’s wishes. Usually, the wishes of a child over age 12 are taken into consideration, and an older teenager’s wishes are likely to be decisive. | If a child is old enough and mature enough, the judge will consider the child’s wishes when determining arrangements for custody, parenting time and contact. The importance given to the child’s views will depend on the age and maturity of the child, the reason why the child wishes to live with a particular person, and how strongly the child feels about wanting to live with that person. But there is no particular age at which children have the right to decide who they will live with. However, in general the older the child is, the more weight the court will give to the child’s wishes. Usually, the wishes of a child over age 12 are taken into consideration, and an older teenager’s wishes are likely to be decisive. | ||
