Can a child choose which parent they want to live with?

In Pennsylvania, a child typically cannot choose which parent they want to live with in regards to child custody. Custody is usually decided between the two parents, or in some cases, the court will be involved in the decision. In the case of a court intervention, the judge will make the decision based on what is in the best interest of the child, such as the relationship between the parents and the child and the physical and emotional needs of the child. If the parents are unable to agree on a custody arrangement, the Pennsylvania courts will consider a variety of factors when determining which parent should have primary custody of the child. These factors include: the parents’ lifestyles, preferences, and abilities; any history of domestic abuse; the child’s age and emotional needs; and the child’s relationship with each parent and with extended family. The court may also take into consideration the child’s wishes, but it is only one factor in the decision-making process and it is not the deciding factor. Ultimately, the decision of which parent the child will live with is left to the parents or, in some cases, to the court. Although Pennsylvania courts will consider the child’s wishes, the child cannot make the ultimate decision.

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Can a child choose which parent they want to live with?

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