What age does family court listen to a child?
What age does family court listen to a child?
If the question of who the child is to live with has to be resolved through court proceedings, then the courts will start to place weight on a child’s wishes when they are considered competent to understand the situation. This can be around the age of 12 or 13 but varies on the circumstances.
How old do you have to be to get custody in PA?
In fact, Pennsylvania law defines a “child” as an unemancipated individual under 18 years of age. (23 Pa. Cons. Stat. Ann. § 5322 (a).) So, until the child reaches 18, the court has jurisdiction—meaning, control—over when, where, and how frequently the child and parents will see each other.
Can a 14 year old child express preference in Pennsylvania custody?
But if a fourteen-year-old child testified that she wanted to live with her father because her father has lived in the same home and school district for many years while the mother has moved frequently, then the court would give a great deal more weight to that child’s opinion.
What are the different types of custody in Pennsylvania?
Continue reading to learn more. There are two kinds of custody in Pennsylvania: physical and legal. Physical custody refers to where the child will live, which parent will provide what kind of care for the child, and how much time each parent will spend with the child.
Can a child have sole custody in Pennsylvania?
If custody is sole, only one parent will make the decisions and will spend most, or sometimes all, of the time with the child. To make an initial custody determination, Pennsylvania judges have to consider an extensive list of factors.
How old do you have to be to go to juvenile court in PA?
In Pennsylvania: The youngest age at which a child can be adjudicated delinquent is 10. 42 Stat. and Cons. Juvenile court has jurisdiction over offenses alleged to have been committed prior to a child’s 18th birthday; after age 18, the youth is charged in adult court. 42 Stat. and Cons.
In fact, Pennsylvania law defines a “child” as an unemancipated individual under 18 years of age. (23 Pa. Cons. Stat. Ann. § 5322 (a).) So, until the child reaches 18, the court has jurisdiction—meaning, control—over when, where, and how frequently the child and parents will see each other.
Can a 14 year old be prosecuted as an adult in PA?
Pennsylvania has three ways that youth can be prosecuted as adults: Discretionary and Presumptive Waiver: Discretionary Waiver can be used for youth 14 and older accused of any felony after a hearing, if the court fines that the transfer would serve the public interest. 42 Pa. Stat. and Cons. Stat. Ann. § 6355 (a).
But if a fourteen-year-old child testified that she wanted to live with her father because her father has lived in the same home and school district for many years while the mother has moved frequently, then the court would give a great deal more weight to that child’s opinion.