What is the Legal age for a child to decide which parent to live with in the state of Rhode Island?

Answer 1

The age at which a child can be left at home alone is only legislated in two states, Maryland and Illinois. The legal check is whether or not the child is safe and has the ability to take care of themselves. Most authorities agree that leaving a 12 year old alone at home for an hour or two is acceptable, but they should not be responsible for other children. Legal Age (Updated) There are very few states in the U.S. with legal minimum ages for children home alone, but many state agencies have published guidelines. Georgia, Illiniois, Maryland and Oregon are a few of the states with specific ages mentioned in their laws.

12 years of age appears to be the most common recommendation. Below in Related Links is an article entitled Home Alone Children Legal Age Limits state by state comparison with references.

One guideline from a California child welfare representative suggests that 8 year olds and over can be left at home for a brief amount of time(such as just after school). The most common statement is that a child's maturity should be the determining factor and not just age.

Answer 2

In Rhode Island, there is no age at which a child can decide which parent to live with. That decision is up to the judge in custody disputes, although he or she can take the child's wishes into account while also weighing other factors.

Answer 3

The "age of majority" (or the age when the child can make that decision on their own without court intervention) is 18 in Rhode Island.

However, almost all states, Rhode Island included, allow the child, a parent, guardian ad litem or attorney acting on their behalf, to write to the judge and/or petition the court for modification of the original custody agreement. The child's wishes will be taken into consideration and the older they are, the more weight will be assigned to them. But ultimately, it is the court's responsibility to decide what is in the best interests of the child, even though the child may not agree with that decision.

Answer 4

In strict terms, a child cannot make a decision regarding his or her living arrangements. It is the duty of the parents and in some cases, the courts to decide where a minor child should live until the age of eighteen.

In practical terms, the older the child, the ore weight his or her opinion will carry, both with parents and with a court. If custody is disputed, it is the court that will have the final decision but as the child gets closer to eighteen years, the court is more likely to make an order in line with the child's wishes unless there are reasons why such an order should not be made.

It is important to remember that every case is different and the court will always make a decision in the best interests of the child. This decision is made for each and every child individually.