Legal Question in Family Law in Oregon

Parenting Time

Is a 13 year old able to decide witch parent he wants to live with? Is this his right?


Asked on 5/19/08, 4:22 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

Lawrence D. Gorin, Atty. Law Offices of Lawrence Gorin

Re: Parenting Time

NO, the decision as to which parent it is with whom a child is going to reside is simply not a "child's decision." It is a decision that will be made for the child by the adults in the child's life, particularly the child's parents. And if the child's parent's cannot reach mutual agreement, a judge will end-up making the decision for them.

It needs to be understood that the child has no more "right" to determine with which parent the child is going to live any more than it is the child's decision as to whether he/she will or will not go to school, or go to the doctor's office for a needed shot, or go to grandma's house for Sunday dinner. These are decisions that are made by parents FOR for child, and not BY the child.

LAWRENCE D. GORIN

http://www.divorcesource.com/OR/pages/ldgorin.html


Law Offices of L.D. Gorin

521 S.W. Clay St., Suite 205

Portland, Oregon 97201

Telephone: 503.224.8884

Fax: 503.226.1321

E-mail: [email protected]

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Answered on 5/19/08, 8:06 pm


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