What do I need to do if my child now wants to live with me?

In some cases, your child may state a preference to the Court. The preference is not binding on the Court but is one of the factors the Court would use in determining "the best interest of the child." While not written as law, our opinion is that the child's stated preference carries more weight in the "best interest" determination for children 12 years old and older, however it never becomes conclusive.

Of course, the child may feel that they are acting against the other parent by stating a preference to the Court, so great care should be considered before putting a child in the situation of stating a preference.