Child choosing to live with father

[CandyCreeper]

Does anyone know what happens when a child decides he wants to live with his dad? this is happening to a relative of mine and she seems to think she can stop it despite the child being 15, so able to make their own decision. she believes said child has been “brainwashed” and the dad is doing it to get to her (he was abusive during the relationship) and also “for the benefits” Will court override the childs decision?

At 14+ they can have a say in where they reside and a court will listen to them.

At 15 it's highly unlikely that the court would overrule the child's decision.

I thought as much. child is adamant he wants to live with his father and is currently there atm. i will tell her that its unlikely as shes at her wits end, she seems to think court would override it as hes
lived with her for 15 years and his school is by their house (dads house is an hour from school)

If he wants to live with his Dad, he'd have to change schools by the sound of it. If that doesn't bother him, I'd say that the court would agree
for him to go Dad's. At 15 he getting close to being an adult - the courts don't force teenagers to stay with the mother if they don't want to.

He'll be 16 soon so he'll be finishing school... I actually left school at 15 as I'm a summer baby so I don't think that's really a factor in the equation. Obviously he won't be able to change schools in the last few months of exams so would have to wait until exams are done.

Legally, the child can choose so she can't do anything to stop him.

My partner has his kids 50:50 and we live 45 min drive from school. As long as he can get bus/train or dad drives him then he need not switch schools

When life was tough as a teen my ds's chose to spend the majority of the time at their df's (Disney Father's) Once reality kicked in on how crap a df he was they were back, ft and nc with df now!!
Patience is needed tell your friend.
The journey to school will be boring before too long for one thing....

he is at a grammar school so the mum is worried he will be throwing his education away. he goes there every weekend so i think he sees the dads house as being a ‘fun’ place to be whereas with his mum he is expected to do chores etc. the dad said he has been playing to get him living there for a while, son heard this but doesnt care. his mum is pretty strict. thanks for the information.

I was in the manners and bedtimes are important corner. Df was in the do what you want including drugs /alcohol corner. Ds hit 14 and a half and realised he needed a parent not a cba df.
Teens aren't stupid ime.

He won't have to change schools just because he has moved in with his father. As long as he can get to and from school he will be fine.