At what age can a child decide where and with which parent they want to live?
A child’s views will always be heard and taken into account when decisions are made about where they will live, or which parent they will live with when parents separate. The amount of weight given to a child’s preferences will vary depending on age and understanding.
A professional may assess whether the child is Gillick competent, meaning whether they are mature enough to make their own decisions and to understand the implications of those decisions. Often a child will be assessed to be mature enough to make decisions at the age of 13 or 14.
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