Court orders and childrens choice

[Haybo26]

Does anyone know at what age a young person can decide who they go to live with please? I am the step-mum of a 12 and 14 year old..soon to be 13 and 15 year old. There is a court-order in place that states they spend x consequentive days with their dad and then x with their Mum. But at what age do they get to decide for themselves who they want to live with...if that's the path they choose? Thanks.

[peonyrose87]

I believe that a court order stands until age 16, however, they will take a child's wishes into account from an age where the child is emotionally mature enough to make decisions. We were told this is usually between 8-12 years depending on the child, and every case may be different!

[user1493413286]

If their dad goes back to court their wishes will be considered and most likely acted on at their ages

[BeforeIPutOnMyMakeup]

childlawadvice.org.uk/information-pages/explaining-the-legality-of-a-child-arrangements-order/

The "live with" element lasts until 18.

But as other posters have pointed out as a child gets older particularly once a child hits secondary age they have more say in how they spend time with each parent. This also means the older the child is the less enforceable breaches would be as the breaches are more likely due to the child's choice.

[Whenitsmytimeitllhappen]

My step daughter came to live with us just before she reached 16 years old as there were underlying issues in her mother's house. I think it also depends on whether there is a Residency Order? Her mum had one of those, but due to said issues and the fact she wanted to come to us, both the Residency Order and the Contact Order were scrapped.

[Sunnydayshereatlast]

At 12 and 14 my ds's moved here full time. They went nc with their df.. Been over 3 years now.
Exh never even contacted me!
Still hasn't!