How old do you have to be to choose what parent to live with if you live in Utah?
The judge will listen to several people when making that decision. First, he will listen to the caseworker/counselor. The caseworker will evaluate the family and the needs of the child. The counselor will have presented a full case study to the judge before the hearing. The counselor will listen to both parents, the child, possibly school teachers and if the police have become involved the counselor will certainly look at those records. Just because a child thinks that it would be a good idea to live with one parent over another doesn't necessarily mean that the counselor will agree. The counselor will look for the most stable parent, the one that can provide the best environment for the development of a child and the one that will give the most opportunity to the child. The counselor will certainly listen to the child, but realistically, there are far more important concerns to consider when deciding where to allow a child to live. If your wish to live with a different parent is based on some good decisions he might consider it. * Minor children are not allowed to choose with whom they wish to live. Some judges will speak with the minor about general issues such as how the minor likes the school he or she presently attends, the neighborhood, friends, extracurricular activities and so forth. The judge will, however, make the decision as to where the child shall reside based on what is deemed in the best interest of the child and not on the preference of any individuals involved in the matter.