In Massachusetts, children can’t “decide” where they will live until they are at least 18 years old. However, Massachusetts courts must consider a child’s custodial preference when the child is mature enough to have a rational opinion.

Consequently, When can father get custody of a child? If the kid is 13 years old or older and shows a desire to live with his father, the court will give it to him. In the event that the mother has a bad reputation, which might harm the kid, the father is given custody.

Do you have to pay child support if you have joint custody? If both parents equally share the care of the children, then neither parent will make child maintenance payments or be responsible for child support arrangements.

Keeping this in consideration, Can I move out of Massachusetts with my child?

The only circumstances where the law does not apply where the parents are not married and the other parent did not sign the birth certificate. In such a case, the child is considered to have only one legal parent and, as such, does not need permission from the other parent or the court to move out of Massachusetts.

Can a mother change a child’s school without the father’s consent?

A parent cannot unilaterally change their child’s school without the consent of anyone else who holds Parental Responsibility (usually the child’s other parent). Any such unilateral change is not only damaging for the child, but disregards the parental responsibility that the other parent holds.

How do you prove parental alienation in Massachusetts? What to Know About Parental Alienation in Massachusetts

  1. Passive verbal jabs about the other parent.
  2. Outright badmouthing the other parent.
  3. Pretending to “save” the child from certain situations that the child simply does not need saving from.

Is Massachusetts a mother State? There are No Gender Preferences in Massachusetts

Massachusetts law gives no preference to either parent based on gender. While courts tended to favor mothers in custody decisions in the past, the assumptions that led to those decisions are no longer used in Massachusetts courts.

Can a 10 year old decide which parent to live with? At what age can a child decide? In law, there is no fixed age that determines when a child can express a preference as to where they want to live. However, legally, a child cannot decide who they want to live with until they are 16 years old.

What are my rights as a child of divorced parents?

Each child has the right to have a conflict-free relationship with each parent. You should never make your children arrange or make any big decisions with regards to child custody issues. Each child has the right to be financially supported by both parents, regardless of how much time each parent spends with the child.

Can a mother keep the child away from the father? Given the fact that a father can lose custody, people often wonder if a mother can legally keep her child away from the father. The short answer to this question is that without a court order, a mother alone cannot legally keep the child away from the father.

What rights do fathers have to see their child?

Based on this a married fathers rights over a child include the rights to make decisions concerning the legal matters, as well as educational, health and welfare and religious matters. A father’s rights over a child will also require him to provide food, clothes and shelter for his child.

Can a father be denied access to his child? Your partner cannot legally stop you from having access to your child unless continued access will be of detriment to your child’s welfare. Until a court order is arranged, one parent may attempt to prevent a relationship with the other. If this happens, your main priority should be the welfare of your child.

Are fathers entitled to 50/50 custody?

Parents commonly choose 50/50 custody when they reach an agreement, and it can also be ordered by a court following trial, if appropriate.

Do you have to pay child maintenance if you have 50/50 custody?

If you have shared care for at least 52 nights a year, you don’t need to pay any child maintenance.

What is classed 50/50 custody? Joint physical custody, or 50/50 custody, means that the child spends approximately equal time living with each parent. However, there are several different child custody arrangements that can provide for 50/50 or joint parenting time. There is not “one size fits all” approach to child custody.

Can my ex stop me from moving away? Can your Ex-Partner stop you from moving away? They may have threatened to take legal action to stop you doing this. Would a Court stop you and what exactly are your rights? The short and simple answer is your Ex-Partner cannot stop you moving away.

Who gets the house in a divorce in Massachusetts?

If a court, rather than the couple themselves, is deciding how to divide assets, Massachusetts law (Chapter 208, Section 34) specifies that “the court may assign to either husband or wife all or any part of the estate of the other.” In other words, the court can take all the property of one spouse, even premarital, and …

Can I refuse access to my child’s father? Your partner cannot legally stop you from having access to your child unless continued access will be of detriment to your child’s welfare. Until a court order is arranged, one parent may attempt to prevent a relationship with the other. If this happens, your main priority should be the welfare of your child.

Can I stop my ex moving away with my daughter?

If you do not agree with the proposed move, your ex should ask the court to make the decision about whether or not they should be allowed to move. One parent does have the right to try and stop the other from moving and may seek a court order from the court to prevent it from happening.

What if parents disagree on school? If both parents cannot agree about a choice of school or school move, you have a couple of options: Seek legal advice, as matters may be resolved more easily if an experienced family solicitor contacts the other parent. Seek family mediation to discuss things with the help of experienced mediators.


Don’t forget to share this post !