Does anyone know how old a child has to be before they can decide themself whether or not to visit another parent in a divorce situation in Texas? Thank you.
Have you read your decree? The reason I ask is b/c I'm doing the 'do-it-yourself' kit that Collin County provides and it has a section in there I can check that says at 15 the visitations cease to be mandatory. It's a box I have to check if I agree or not check if I don't.
If you don't have something in your decree that says the same thing, you might have to go to court to modify it, but since I'm not a lawyer, your best bet is to ask one.
Good luck!
Pam,
I am a paralegal and have specialized in family law. In Texas, at the age of 12 the child can request to reside with a certain parent. An affidavit has to be signed by the child and the judge (and often attorneys) will talk to the child in private so that they can judge if it is what the child really wants or if it it influenced by a parent.
As far as deciding if they want to just continue visitation, it is fifteen unless other wise stated in your decree. However, keep in mind...NOTHING and i mean NOTHING is really ever final. If you have something you would like changed in your decree, you simply have to go to the court house (if you dont want to involve attorneys) and get the correct form to file from the law library and then submit it to the court. Keep in mind, both parites will have to sign it if you want to keep attorneys out of it.