I have a daughter who lives in Michigan and stayed there when my husband and I moved to Arizona. She is now calling everynight crying that she wants to move back in with us but her other parent will not allow it. How is it that a child's voice can not be heard. I am completely blown away that a child can make the decision to drop out of school at 16 but can't choose which parent to reside with, what is wrong with this picture?

ScottGem

I think you are jumping the gun here. What's at issue here is what is written in the Custody agreements signed when you divorced. If the father has custody, he can make decisions for the child until 18. However, there is nothing that prevents you from going to court to amend the custody agreement. At the hearing, your daughter's voice will be listened to.

Fr_Chuck

What is wrong is often the child would choose the wrong parent to live with,

In some cases it would be a parent who parties and does not require the child to do certain things. ( I am not saying in your case) But this is why the child is given custody to one or both parents according to the courts choice. Now you can go back and request custody of the child, and the child can tell the judge what she wants, then it is up to the judge to decide still.

As for dropping out of school, they may be allowed in your state to ( but not all states) but the parent does not have to allow it, and can still force the child to go to school ( which they should of course)

tinsign

In the state of Michigan i know they don't make a child return home once they are 16..I live in that state as well and so many times parents of 16 year olds from other states try to expedite them back, but as i stated in Michigan they can legally leave home at 16.