Can a child of 10 decide where to live?
Can a child of 10 decide where to live?
In law, there is no fixed age that determines when a child can express a preference as to where they want to live. However, legally, a child cannot decide who they want to live with until they are 16 years old.
Can a 12 year old decide which parent to live with in Massachusetts?
In Massachusetts, children can’t “decide” where they will live until they are at least 18 years old. However, Massachusetts courts must consider a child’s custodial preference when the child is mature enough to have a rational opinion.
How old can you leave a child at home alone in Massachusetts?
Latchkey children age restrictions by state
| State | Minimum age of home alone child | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Maine | None | Maine Kids & Kin |
| Maryland | 8 | Baltimore County, Maryland FAQ |
| Massachusetts | None | Massachusetts Trial Court Law Libraries |
| Michigan* | 11 | The Michigan Child Protection Law (Appendix 2) |
Why does 85 percent of child custody go to women?
He attributes the fact that statistics still show that about 85 percent of primary physical custody goes to women, to the variety of factors leading fathers to cede custody to mothers. Some dads do jump right into the single life, leaving the bulk of the child-raising to the mothers.
What happens when two parents share custody of a child?
In cases where two parents share physical custody, but the child resides with one parent more than 50% of the time, the parent with the greater percentage of parenting time is awarded the right to claim the child. Of course, with 365 days in most years, an exact 50/50 split is usually impossible.
What happens if neither parent wins child custody?
Sometimes neither parent is the one to win child custody. Instead, the courts fail to determine that either adult is the better parent and decide to rule in favor of joint custody, which can be joint legal custody or joint physical custody.
Which is the best custody arrangement for a child?
Family courts across the nation generally agree that joint custody is the best arrangement for the child. This arrangement enables the child to see both parents on a regular basis.