Legal Question in Family Law in California

Can a 14 year old child choose where she wants to live?


Asked on 5/30/10, 12:25 pm

2 Answers from Attorneys

Anthony Roach Law Office of Anthony A. Roach

If you mean does a 14 year old child have significant input on which parent has primary physicial custody in a visitation and custody dispute, then yes. If you are the 14 year old girl who wants to live with her father's creepy friends, then no.

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Answered on 5/30/10, 3:40 pm

The bottom line answer is "no," not until she is 18. How much input she will have between parents depends on a great number of factors, too numerous to discuss here. If all other factors are equal betweent the two homes, her opinion may be given significant weight by a court, unless her judgment appears clouded or coerced. If one parent is a convicted child pornographer, or something, her opinion will not matter much.

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Answered on 5/31/10, 8:56 am


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