Legal Question in Family Law in Washington
change in custody
At what age can a child decide which parent they want to live with?
Asked on 10/06/07, 6:13 pm
1 Answer from Attorneys
Elizabeth Powell
ELizabeth Powell PS Inc
Re: change in custody
Eighteen. Before that it is up to the parents or the Court.
In WA, courts do not want to hear from children, and children who say terrible things to their guardians ad litem about the parent they live with are sometimes not believed.
The GAL is the interface with the Court, not the child. Court's rationale is that being a child whose parents are fighting is bad enough without the parents brainwashing the child to hate the other parent.
Elizabeth Powell
Answered on 10/06/07, 8:01 pm