Hi,

My 15 year old daughter who now lives with her aunt after her mom left while having custody after our divorce wants to come live with me. What role will her age of 15 & wanting to live with me play in the courts.

Have been through this with my own daughter.

Custody laws vary by state. You will have to check yours to see what current statutes are.

There are many variables - does her aunt have 'legal' custody or guardianship by a signed court order.

If so, is your daughter there because she wants to be, or because the courts placed her there?

Did you have joint custody prior to her mother 'leaving'?

Does she see her mother at all? Is this a legal visitation that is set up or just casual.

A child can NOT, I will repeat this CAN NOT 'make up his/her mind' at ANY age in any state as to where he/she wants to live. The courts MIGHT take this into consideration, and MIGHT listen to what she wants but this will only be a small part of what goes into the decision of where to place her.

Do you live in the state where she is living with her aunt or will she be required to relocate?

Does the aunt agree? If not, you will have a long and expensive battle ahead of you!

I have put over (sit down for this) $60,000 into attorney's fees while fighting for custody of my daughter. I left the state she resided in to take a job in another city, she wanted to go with me. Her father and I had joint custody while residing in the same state. When I left the custody reverted to her father.

Two years and tons of money later the court decided that she needed to stay where she was. That was 2 years ago. She was 15. The decision itself took a LONG 24 months to drag through the court system (AZ and NV).

The court required she stay with her father.

Good luck!