At What Age Can A Child Choose Which Parent To Live With In Michigan?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Contrary to popular belief, there is no age in Michigan when the child can unilaterally decide which parent to live with other

than after age 18

. The preference of the child, however, is one of the many considerations that the judge will consider when making decisions regarding child or .

Can a 14 year old decide who they want to live with in Michigan?

It is up to the judge to decide whether a child is old enough to state a preference. The judge will give more weight to this factor with children who are older or more mature.

There is no age at which a child can decide where he

or she wants to live.

What age can a child pick which parent to live with in Michigan?

Contrary to popular belief, there is no age in Michigan when the child can unilaterally decide which parent to live with other

than after age 18

. The preference of the child, however, is one of the many considerations that the judge will consider when making decisions regarding child custody or parenting time.

Can a 13 year old decide who they want to live with?

In general,

young children should not be given the choice of where they want to live

. This can even lead to a child regretting their decision or feeling guilty. Depending on a number of relevant factors, including the child's maturity level, a child's preference becomes more important by about age 12 to 13.

Can a 14 year old choose where they want to live?

Code § 3042 (a).) If a child is at least 14, the law allows the child to state a custodial preference, unless the judge believes doing so would be detrimental. …

Children can't choose where to live until they are 18 years old

.

Can a child choose not to visit a parent in Michigan?

Contrary to popular belief,

there is no age in Michigan when the child can unilaterally decide which parent to live with other than after age 18

. The preference of the child, however, is one of the many considerations that the judge will consider when making decisions regarding child custody or parenting time.

How do you prove best interest of the child?

  1. Prepare a parenting plan. …
  2. Keep track of your parenting time. …
  3. Maintain a journal to show you meet parenting duties. …
  4. Keep a log of child-related expenses. …
  5. Get reliable child care. …
  6. Ask others to testify on your behalf. …
  7. Show that you're willing to work with the other parent.

Can an 11 year old decide 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 age Can child decide where to live?

Children can't choose where to live until they are

18 years old

. Each case is different, and the judge will decide how much weight to give to the child's preference using broad discretion. Courts will generally give more value to older children's opinions than those of younger children.

Does my 14 year old have to visit her dad?

Under the law,

each parent must follow a custody order exactly

. This means, you're obligated to make a child in your care available for visits with the other parent as laid out in the custody order. A parent may have a different role in making visits happen for a four-year old child versus a 14 year-old one.

Can a child refuse to see a parent?

Children

over the age of 16 have the legal authority to refuse visitation

with a noncustodial parent unless stated otherwise by a court order.

What age can child refuse to see parent?

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.

Can a child choose not to live with a parent?

Although children may be able to clearly state their desire to live with the noncustodial parent, courts generally will give this little weight

unless the child appears to be mature enough to make the decision

. In some states, all custody determinations require a court to conduct a best interests analysis.

Do mothers have more rights than fathers?

Although many people assume that moms have more child custody rights than dads, the truth is, U.S. custody laws don't give mothers an edge in custody proceedings. … However, the fact is

that no custody laws in the U.S. give mothers a preference or additional rights to custody of their children

.

Can a 14 year old choose not to see a parent?

Code § 3042 (a).) If a child is at least 14,

the law allows the child to state a custodial preference

, unless the judge believes doing so would be detrimental. … Children can't choose where to live until they are 18 years old.

What is considered an unfit environment for a child?

A parent may be deemed unfit if they have

been abusive, neglected, or failed to provide proper care for the child

. A parent with a mental disturbance or addiction to drugs or alcohol may also be found to be an unfit parent.

Maria LaPaige
Author
Maria LaPaige
Maria is a parenting expert and mother of three. She has written several books on parenting and child development, and has been featured in various parenting magazines. Maria's practical approach to family life has helped many parents navigate the ups and downs of raising children.