Does anyone know what the age is that kids have a say in visitation?

Question

i'm wondering what age my daughter will have a say in how long she has to visit her dad over summers. she didnt want to go at all, but apparently that didnt matter,as she had to go 2 1/2 months this summer. she'll be 11 in sept. thanks!

Answer 1

While i agree with you that she shouldn't have to stay with him for nearly that long (if at all), as a kid who went through a messy divorce, its never a good idea to make her be the one to make the decision. Go to court with evidence if you truly want to stop her from seeing her father for extended periods of time

Answer 2

I believe it's 14. I think I saw it on Dr. Phil or something.

Answer 3

Does she have a say when she sees you? NO, that's because kids don't always know what is best for them and it's good for her to have a relationship with both parents and you should only be encouraging and supporting that rather than leading her to think you don't want her to go. Kids have a say when they reach the age of 18 and are considered adults.

Answer 4

Document everything, talk to your attorney, and go back to court.  Dad should submit to a court - ordered drug test, and you should get statements from everyone who cared for your daughter while she was supposed to be with her dad.  That might be enough to get the visitation order changed.  Good luck.

Answer 5

Its important she has a relationship with her father whether you want her to or not. Its important also that you make her believe that you want her to go and that it would make you happy to know that she is spending time with her father (even if it doesn't she doesn't need to know that.)  I didn't have a say in visitation until I was 18 and I needed both parents support to want to go.

Answer 6

It all depends on where you are, and what judge you happen to get.  By all accounts a child has no "legal" right to choose at any age under 18 because they are legal incompetents, but some judges start to take into consideration their opinions at about the age of 12 and up.  

http://www.deltabravo.net/custody/choose...

Before you start with the court process, have you asked why your daughter didn't want to go at all?  Was it just because she wanted to stay home with friends?  Because that isn't going to be considered a good enough reason.  If her father wants to see her and takes reasonable care of her then she should go and visit her father.  It's hard to adjust to summers without the same people you went to school with, but giving in just because of that isn't right, you should encourage her to enjoy her time with her father and making it a positive.