Legal Question in Family Law in California

A child's custodial preference will be given increased weight based on the age and maturity of the child. As of this year, the Family Code was modified allowing a child 14 years or older the right to make a request to have their preference considered. With all that being said, the court must make the placement decision that is in the child's best interests if the parents cannot agree on the arrangement.

During their minority, a child does not ever have the ability to decide which parent he wishes to live with. Their wishes are considered more as they get older, but the children's best interests are always the primary concern of the Court.