I am 14 my dad has custody of me. I want to live with my now. Can I just go in front of a jugde or will my mom have to take my dad to court.

I am 14 my dad has custody of me. I want to live with my now. Can I just go infront of a jugde or will my mom have to take my dad to court.


You can decide when you are 18. Yes, if your father has custody your mother would have to go back to Court and request a change of custody. You will probably be asked why you want a change in custody, but the Court is under no obligation to do what you want.

Of course, your father could consent and then your mother and father would go to Court and simply make the change.

18 is the age you get to decide... not before. In no part of the USA does the child make that choice... sometimes the child might be asked who they would perfer, but the decision is always made by adults. And who you want is never the reason for picking one over the other.

I believe you should call Child Social Services and talk to a social worker. I know my grandson is 14 and decided to live with his father and family. Mother had custody. That is such a serious decision on your part that you really should talk to the authorities. Good Luck and God Bless.

I believe you should call Child Social Services and talk to a social worker. I know my grandson is 14 and decided to live with his father and family. Mother had custody. That is such a serious decision on your part that you really should talk to the authorities. Good Luck and God Bless.


Why would the OP call a social worker? The LAW says he/she can't decide until he/she is 18. Social Services doesn't take random telephone calls from teens who want to live here or there - unless there's abuse which the OP wants to report.

This is very bad legal advice - what "authorities" should the OP be talking to?

We take great pride in our answers on the legal boards. Please make certain your answers are accurate.

Now, in the event we are in different Countries or I am misunderstanding what you have said, please explain what I'm missing.

As noted, you don't get to make the decision. Some US states have guidelines as to how much weight to give to the child's preference. But the decision is still left up to a judge.

So mom will have to go to court to request a change.

Please don't waste a social worker's time with this. Unless dad is abusing you there is no reason to get them involved.