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Can a fourteen year old choose which parent to live with?

Can a fourteen year old choose which parent to live with?

Q: What if a child doesn't want to live with a parent?

If a child expresses a desire not to live with a parent, the court will take that into account, but it is just one of many factors considered. The court's ultimate goal is to ensure the child's best interests are met, which may involve a thorough review of the situation.

Q: Do stay-at-home moms have to pay child support?

Child support obligations depend on various factors, including the parents' income and custody arrangements. If a stay-at-home mom has joint custody, she may not have to pay child support, but it can vary based on individual circumstances and state laws.

Q: Is joint custody a good idea?

Joint custody can be beneficial as it allows both parents to remain involved in a child's life. However, its success depends on the parents' ability to communicate and cooperate. The court typically favors joint custody when it serves the child's best interests.

Q: Can I choose to live with my dad at 14?

While a 14-year-old can express a desire to live with their father, the final decision rests with the court. The court will consider the child's wishes along with other factors to determine what arrangement serves the child's best interests.

Full question:

A fourteen year old boy who lives with his mother wants to live with his father. The parents have joint custody. The father pays child support and has visitation rights on the weekends. The mother has remarried. The father is still single. Does the boy have legal right to decide who he would live with?

Category: Divorce
Subcategory: Child Custody
Date: 04/07/2025
State: Nevada

Answer:

In custody cases, the court's primary focus is the best interests of the child. There is a general assumption that joint custody benefits the child. The court considers several factors, including:

The child's wishes;
The parents' wishes;
Any history of domestic violence by either parent against the child, the other parent, or anyone living with the child.

Importantly, the court does not favor one parent over the other based on their gender.

This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.

FAQs

When you're 14 can you choose where you want to live?

At 14, a child's preferences may be considered in custody decisions, but they do not have the legal authority to unilaterally choose where to live. The court will evaluate the child's wishes along with other factors to determine what is in their best interests.