Chances a 17 Year Old Will Be Allowed to Choose Which Parent to Live With

[Parent99]

My question involves a child custody case from the State of: Kentucky
I share joint custody with my ex-husband (divorced in 1998). We live in Kentucky within 15 miles of each other in the same county. When she was 16, I turned him in for non-payment of child support. He responded by filing for full custody, stating that she stayed with him more than with me and therefore he did not owe back child support and deserved full custody becasue she stayed there more. The judge interviewed our 16 year old daughter, whom replied that she wanted to share equal time with both of us, which she was doing. the judge grated her request and our latest custody order reflects this decision. It states the child may decide whom she wants to stay with and that neither party shall interfere with her decision. That was the only change. She is now 17 and wants to live with me only. She still occasionally stays with her dad though. When she does go to her dads he tells her she has to stay there, whether she likes it or not. My ex has repeatedly intimidated our daughter to stay with him more than equal time and there are other problems in his household. My question is, since her wishes have already been honored and she wants to live with me, is there a good chance that the judge will honor her decision again?

[Dogmatique]

There's a pretty good chance, yes.

[Antigone]

My question involves a child custody case from the State of: Kentucky
I share joint custody with my ex-husband (divorced in 1998). We live in Kentucky within 15 miles of each other in the same county. When she was 16, I turned him in for non-payment of child support. He responded by filing for full custody, stating that she stayed with him more than with me and therefore he did not owe back child support and deserved full custody becasue she stayed there more. The judge interviewed our 16 year old daughter, whom replied that she wanted to share equal time with both of us, which she was doing. the judge grated her request and our latest custody order reflects this decision. It states the child may decide whom she wants to stay with and that neither party shall interfere with her decision. That was the only change. She is now 17 and wants to live with me only. She still occasionally stays with her dad though. When she does go to her dads he tells her she has to stay there, whether she likes it or not. My ex has repeatedly intimidated our daughter to stay with him more than equal time and there are other problems in his household. My question is, since her wishes have already been honored and she wants to live with me, is there a good chance that the judge will honor her decision again?

You answered your own question The judge would be following his own order.