At What Age Can You Choose Which Parent You Live with

[nesquick1748]

*my friend wants to know the answer to this, but does not have the means to get it*

My friend is 14 years old, and her parents have had shared custody over her and her sister for a long time now. Though she doesn't want to see/live with her dad. At 14 does she have the right to choose to live with her mom? And if she does would they have to go to court?

[LawResearcherMissy]

At 14 does she have the right to choose to live with her mom?

Nope. She can ask her father to allow it, but he can say no.

[jk]

there is one state, if I recall, that allows a minor to choose which parent to live with. If memory serves me well, it was right about 14 as the designated age. Of course, since you didn't include the state, I cannot confirm nor deny it would apply to your friends situation.

[nesquick1748]

@LawResearcherMissy, thanks for the reply. Another question does the father have the right to go through things he did not purchase?

[cbg]

Even in that state, as I recall, the judge has right of refusal if the choice the minor makes is determined to not be in the minor's best interest. If the kid wants to live with Dad (or Mom) because Dad (or Mom) does not supervise him (or her) at all but lets him run around with - let's say adults of poor reputation - and come in at 3 in the morning on a school night, kid's choice is not binding on the judge in any state.

[nesquick1748]

@JK, I am sorry I left that part out..... it is in Canada, Ontario

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Canada, Ontario.

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Oh and if he does say no is there anything she may be able to do to try to live with her mom?

[Dogmatique]

Forum is for US law only.

[cbg]

Canadian law and US law are not the same. We have no experts on Canadian law here save one expert on Canadian employment law.

[nesquick1748]

Thanks for the information. She doesn't want to live with her mom for more freedom. Her and her dad don't a long that well. Um for example one time she walked by her dad and stepped on his hand by an accident. Than he grabed her leg and hit her. I have another question if you have the knowledge to answer it. Does he have the right to go through things that he has not purchased?

[Dogmatique]

US LAW ONLY.

But I'll go out on a limb here and say "Yes", he has probably has the absolute right to search her purse, backpack, pockets, whatever - even if he didn't purchase them. And the same goes for her cell phone.