At what age in Washington can a child choose which parent to live with?
Asked by: Ms. Kathlyn Klocko PhD | Last update: July 11, 2025Score: 4.1/5 (28 votes)
According to the Washington statutes governing custody law, there is no established age younger than 18 in which a child can make a unilateral decision about which parent they want to live with. Typically, a judge will appoint a social worker or guardian to work with the child.
Can a child choose which parent to live with in Washington State?
In both Washington and Oregon, a child can only choose which parent they'd like to live with when they turn 18 or are otherwise emancipated. Minor children are not considered capable of making such decisions for themselves and are not permitted to “choose” living with one parent over another.
What if my child wants to live with his dad?
Don't Take It Personally
There are many reasons your child may feel this way and in most cases it is not because they don't love the parent they don't want to live with. It doesn't have to be seen as a negative evaluation of who you are as a person or a parent.
At what age can a child refuse to see a parent in Washington State?
Up to that point, however, the situation is more complex, as there is no set age at which a child can refuse visitation. Obviously, the court may take action to enforce a visitation order when one parent is interfering with the visitation rights of the other.
What if a child doesn't want to live with a parent?
If a child doesn't want to live with a parent, it might be a safety issue. If your child is old enough, ask what is happening there that makes him or her not want to go. For small children, ask them to draw a picture of life at Daddy's house. A professional counselor and lawyers might need to be involved.
At What Age Can My Child Choose Where to Live?
What happens when a child refuses to go with a parent?
Sometimes, with older children who refuse visitation, it may not be considered the parent's fault if the visit didn't happen. But if a child continually refuses to follow the visitation schedule, regardless of the child's age, then a parent may decide to get the court involved through contempt proceedings.
Can I choose to live with my dad at 13?
In California, a child is considered to be “of sufficient age” to express a preference when they are at least 14 years old. Thus, any minor over the age of 14 years old has the right to express their preference of which parent they would prefer to live with after the parents' divorce or separation.
Can a 14 year old decide where he wants to live?
In California, children cannot choose where to live until they are 18 years old, but their preferences may be taken into account in custody decisions. If a child is 14 years or older, the court must listen to their opinion regarding where they would like to live unless it is deemed not in their best interest.
Can I call the police if my child refuses to come home?
Is it possible to call the police on your own child if they run away and refuse to come home? What actions can the police take in this situation? Your child is a run away, call it in as such. If you know where they are let the police know as well, it's against the law to harbor a run away.
Can a mother take a child out of state without father's consent in Washington?
Whether you can remove your child from the state of Washington without the others parent's knowledge depends on the court ordered parenting plan. If your plan says you have to have permission or give notice to travel to another state, then you have to ask permission.
What is cold mother syndrome?
Cold mother syndrome refers to a parenting style characterized by emotional distance, dismissiveness, and rejection. This type of mothering is often accompanied by a lack of emotional availability and neglect of a child's emotional needs.
What age can a child make a decision to live with a parent?
In California, a minor at least 14 years old can be considered “of sufficient age” to express a preference for which parent they want to live with. However, they can express that preference at any age, but it may not be viewed seriously when younger than 14.
What to do when your child only wants the other parent?
- Find a routine the whole family can share. ...
- Model polite language. ...
- Empathize with their feelings. ...
- Lighten the mood. ...
- Give your child something they can control. ...
- Find a good stand in.
What to do when your kid says they want to live with the other parent?
As hard as it may be, don't match your child's anger or engage in a discussion about changing the living arrangements. Even though you may be seething, do your best to give the appearance of being calm and collected. If needed, take a deep breath before addressing your child's request in a matter of fact way.
Is Washington a 50/50 custody state?
Home » Why Do I Have to Pay Child Support if I Share 50/50 Custody? No law in Washington State provides a presumption for 50/50 child custody. However, the courts encourage joint custody in most cases when both parents are fit to have custody of their children.
What age does Washington State consider a child to be a minor?
(b) "Minor" means a person younger than 18 years of age. (c) "Legal guardian" means a court-appointed legal guardian or court-appointed permanent custodian. (d) "Relative" is a person who is related to the pregnant or parenting minor as defined under RCW 74.15. 020.
What are the rights of a 14-year-old?
Your parents are your guardians until you reach the age of majority at 18 and therefore make all of the major decisions for you. Before 18, there are decisions that you are allowed to make on your own on a case-by-case basis. You are allowed to make certain medical decisions on your own by the age of 14, for example.
What can I do if my 17 year old runs away?
As soon as you learn that your child has run away, report them as missing to your local police. Ask your police agency to conduct a search within a mile radius of where your child was last seen or believed to have gone.
Can a non-custodial parent refuse to return a child?
If the noncustodial parent is withholding your child from you, it is parental kidnapping. Call the police to report it. They could send out an Amber Alert to locate your child, and the parent will be arrested.
What not to say during a custody battle?
Avoid cursing and putting down the other parent, your children, in-laws, and other family members, the mediator, the judge, and others involved in the process. That can be tricky when sensitive topics, such as substance abuse, are at play.
Can a mother refuse access to the father?
The answer to this question is almost always “no,” especially if there is a court order granting custody and parent-time to your child's father. What follows are potential exceptions to this general rule, but you should not withhold your child without discussing it with an experienced family law attorney beforehand.
At what age can children make decisions on their own?
Prior research establishes that children's involvement in decisions (either deciding with parents or deciding on their own) increases over ages nine to 13 (Yee and Flanagan 1985), while decision autonomy (deciding without parental input) increases over ages 12–17 (Dornbusch et al.
Can I choose which parent to live with at 15?
In California, the law allows children age 14 and up to express their parental preference to aid in determining custody. However, no matter the child's age, a judge will consider their preference in evaluating the overall suitability of the custody arrangement.
Can I go live with my dad at 15?
Your father will have to file a modification of custody in court in order for you to live with him full time and change the current order. Because even if your mother agrees, only a court order will legally change custody and child support.
Is it normal for a 21 year old to live with their parents?
A 2024 Pew Research Center report shows that 57% of young adults between the ages of 18 and 24 are living in their parents' households, as opposed to 53% that did in 1993. With this and an already rising cost of living, some feel like this reality might be lifelong.