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There is clearly a misunderstanding about children choosing who they want to live with. In Texas, children do not get to choose who they want to live with. Section 153.009 of the Texas Family Code does allow for children to have a voice on the subject. The law allows for a party to request for the judge to confer with a child. Once a request is made for a judge to confer with a child, the judge must talk with children 12 years of age and older and may talk with children under the age of 12. Therefore, the law allows for children to state their preference, it does not allow them to choose.
(1) Children can choose to live with the parent who has promised them inappropriate benefits, a new car, or no curfew for example. (2) Children can choose to live with the parent they feel needs them. That puts the child into a parental role which is harmful. It is the parents' job to take care of the children, not vice versa. (3) Children can choose to live with the parent they hardly know because they have a fairytale expectation about how wonderful that parent will be. That fantasy seldom turns into reality. (4) Children can choose to live with the parent who has more money.