How old in Texas?

[rsb2798]

What is the age that a child must be in order to decide for themselves as to who they want to live with? And also, if that childs sibling is younger than them would the sibling also be entitled to live with that parent? TEXAS

 

[ktarra617]

There is no set age for the child to determine who they want to live with. Most courts will allow a written statement from about age 11 and take that statement into consideration but they don't always do what the child wants. The court will do what is in the best interests of the child. The younger sibling would not be entitled to live with that parent just because an older sibling was allowed to. The younger would still be subject to a modification hearing. The court would probably not take the statement of a child younger than 11 into consideration. It all really depends on the situation of the parents and children at the time.

This is what I was told when I spoke with a lawyer a year or so ago so things could have changed I would verify this with a lawyer just to be on the safe side.

 

[julhurt]

We are in a modification situation right now and the boy is 14, he wants to live with his Mother because we make him go to school, get counseling, keep tabs on him and make him eat decent meals. She sent him to us on a temporary basis because he was failing everything in school and in trouble with the law. After 9 months, he's on the honor roll, quarterback of the football team and running for President of his class. She wanted him back now and so we filed, even though he wants to go, our attorney believes the judge will rule in our favor. Good Luck

 

[scottishgal]

How old in Texas

We are going through this right now. My husbands ex filed modification papers wanting to get more money, give us less visitation and be the deciding factor in where her daughter lives, without giving her any say. We are fighting this and suing her (the ex) for the right to give the daughter the right to decide. Our lawyer says that in Texas when a child is 12 years old, they have a say in what they want. She said that the older the child is, the more weight they have on what they want. Good luck in your situation, and hopefully ours will work out, also.