So my parents are getting divorced and my mom wants to move to start over. We currently live in california and my dad is not letting us go willingly. So we have to have a child custody evaluator/ child mediator and we discovered through out own experience and that of others that she is biased. She seemed biased in the session with me and my two 12- year old sibilings, and she said some very innapropriate things to us and my mother. I am 16 years old and I would really do well with this move and it would be good for me. At what age am I legally allowed to decide which parent I’d like to live with (custody)? I believe in California it is 18, but I really need help getting the OK to move there. Any suggestions or legal tips is greatly appreciated. What can we do to try and get the court to approve the move without the consent of the father. He really wasnt a very actively involved dad but he’s put on a good show for the court and child custody evaluator. We really need help and any info that we could use to be able to move is SO appreciated. Many thanks!
At your age the Court will give great weight to your wishes regarding custody. The 12 year olds’ wishes will also be considered, but not as much. But Courts like to keep children together, so your testimony will be a big factor.
If you aren’t offered the opportunity to talk to the Judge, your mother should request that you be allowed to do so, in private. Just tell the Judge the truth, be very polite, and try not to be nervous. Don’t say really mean things about your Dad, but make it clear that he hasn’t been very interested in you in the past and you think that he would lose interest again as soon as the custody issue is settled.
You’re going with your Mom, I expect. Good luck.
My remarks during the NDAA mark-up about provisions in the bill aimed at combating sexual assault in the military and protecting the child custody rights of service members.
ADVANCE DIRECTIVES/ LIVING WILLS
http://www.BestTrustedGuide.com/child-custody
Bloch and Chapleau – Colorado Men’s Rights, Divorce Lawyers Colorado television advertisement
http://tinyurl.com/123custody ← ← WIN YOUR CHILD CUSTODY CASE NOW!!!!
http://www.LookingForGoodThing.com/child-custody – How to Win a Child Custody Situation
http://www.FirstStepGuide.com/custody Know what may lead a parent or guardian to gain physical custody of a child. Though requirements vary from state to state, the court is seeking the best living situation for the child when it awards custody. It will look at such things as the parent’s interest in custody, ability to act in the child’s best interest, the physical and emotional safety of the home, the child’s overall needs and the degree of bonding between parent and child.