Legal Question in Family Law in California

When they turn 18. Until then custody is determined by the agreement of the parents, or court order.

A child is never given a choice. The court will consider the child's desire at any age and will give that desire the weight that the maturity of the child warrants. Absent abuse, the judge would probably never grant an order that the child not spend time with the parent who is not the primary custodial parent. However, as they get older and depending on many factors the court may grant a child's wish to live primarily with one parent, possibly to where the non-primary parent would see the child a few hours per week. Good Luck, Pat McCrary