Age a Child Can Choose Which Parent to Live With
Tennessee parents who are getting a divorce must decide who volition be the primary residential parent, and who volition have parenting time visitation with the child. However, if the parents are unable to concur on child custody on their own, a judge will brand the decision for them. Sometimes when a family is breaking up, the child will express a preference to live with ane parent or the other. The question of whether it is possible for a child to cull which parent will exist their primary residential parent, which one they volition visit is and how old they must be to brand that choice is what we will be exploring in this blog post today.
At what age tin can a child choose which parent to live with in Tennessee?
12.
In Tennessee, according to Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-6-106, there are several factors which a family courtroom gauge must take into consideration when they are deciding child custody. Section xiii of the General Custody Provisions allows for "The reasonable preference of the child if twelve (12) years of age or older. The courtroom may hear the preference of a younger child upon asking. The preference of older children should ordinarily be given greater weight than those of younger children."
Detect that the law says that the court will hear the reasonable preferences of a 12-year-quondam kid, but it does not say that children 12 years and older can make up one's mind which parent they desire to live with. If the parents have not been able to decide about custody on their own, it is the judge who must ascertain what is in the best interest of the kid and make the final decision – not the kid.
The kid volition have to testify in court well-nigh why they believe that the parent they have expressed a preference for is in their best interest, and whether their preference is reasonable. As you might imagine, at that place are divorce cases where parents effort to use the child as a pawn in their scheme to exact revenge from the other parent, so they double-decker the kid and try to dispense them into telling a story. But these schemes are rarely successful as judges are quite familiar with the tactics that warring parents volition try to "win" in a child custody case. They know how to make up one's mind if the child has been coached to requite certain answers.
The kid'southward preferences are non the but kid custody factors that the gauge will be considering when they make their last determination, so if you are a parent whose child wants to choose which parent they will live with, you might suggest them to keep an open up mind and to notice a fashion to make the virtually of whatever decision the gauge makes.
At LaFevor & Slaughter, we understand the emotional roller coaster that occurs with making decisions about child custody. We have more than 38 years of feel helping parents put their child's need first and choose a path to divorce that minimizes the negative impacts on the kid. To consult with a Knoxville child custody attorney, we invite you to call 865-637-6258. You tin also schedule an date by completing our contact form
Patrick Slaughter is an experienced Knoxville chaser passionate about helping families resolve legal issues including divorce, family law matters and clearing. Patrick graduated from Lincoln Memorial University – Duncan Schoolhouse of Law, summa cum laude and is a published author. Patrick is a member of the Knoxville Bar Association too every bit the Tennessee Bar Association. Contact Patrick Slaughter at (865) 637-6258 or by filling out a case evaluation below.
Read more about Patrick Slaughter
Source: https://www.jameslafevor.com/age-can-child-choose-parent-live-tennessee-divorce/
0 Response to "Age a Child Can Choose Which Parent to Live With"
Post a Comment