Legal Question in Family Law in Florida
Child custody
My son is 12 and he wants to live
with me. His father is using him as a
tool to punish me. He calls my son
names and speaks very badly about
me, but he will not give me custody
because that is the only hold he has
over me. At what age can my son
say where he wants to live? My son
has already stated that he would
speak to the court. His father drinks
a lot and I do not want my child in
that environment.
2 Answers from Attorneys
Re: Child custody
A child's opinion of who should have custody can be taken into consideration by the court. However children cannot choose whose has custody themselves. That is a judges� decision. If you want help getting custody changed you should contact a Florida attorney who practices in family law.
Re: Child custody
It is usually best to leave the child out of these discussions and proceed upon the actual merits. The risk is that the child may irreparably damage the relationship between themselves and the other parent by speaking out in court. If the situation is dire, you can frequently proceed without the child's testimony.