Can my daughter choose to live with me>?

[dale123glos]

My daughter is now 12(13 in october).
I split with her mother when she was 6 and she stays with me EVERY weekend and for half of every school holiday.

She now wants to live with me full time, but i am not sure if the law will allow this if her mum objects.

Has she the right to choose or does she have to wait until she is older...ie. 14...15..16?
thanks!

[Kathyan]

Going back a good few years, my son, then 13 asked to go and live with his father who had moved away. Because it was his choice I agreed and the family court let him go. I don't know what would have happened if I had said no. Has your daughter told her mum that this is what she wants? Are you on good terms with her mum? Could you all sit down together and discuss the situation? Hope everything works out for you all.

[dale123glos]

Thanks Kathyan,
my daughter hasnt asked her mum in case she flips and stops her coming to see me altogether.
Her mum probably wont agree to it, because she uses my daughter as a live in babysitter to her two new kids so that she can go out as and when she pleases.
My daughter is tired of having to be a mum to the other 2 kids and just wants to be a kid herself!

[Goodsoulette]

Corect me if Im wrong someone but you have to 16 to look after other children. I dont think the law extends to its ok if they are your brother and sister.

I know its a whole pile of trouble but you could always ask your daughter to phone you next time she is left alone to look after the other kids and you could phone it in or go round if you live too far away.

[dale123glos]

Thanks goodsoulette,
I think the law says there is no minimum age to babysit,it is up to the parents to be happy that the babysitter is responsible.
It just isnt fair for my daughter who has to get them ready for school.....make their tea when they get home and sit them in the night when she should be a kid herself!
The law isnt always fair!

[Goodsoulette]

Just checked this out, There is no legal age but if you check on the Police web site it states that no child can be responsible for another child if they are under the age of 16. It also says it on the NSPCC. If your daughter is being left of an evening to look after children younger than her then this would be deemed as neglect according to both sites.

If she was being left on her own it would be a different matter.

[dale123glos]

Thanks for the kind advice goodsoulette

[Goodsoulette]

On another front I think if a child is over a certain age ( maybe 6 or 8) then they have a say in where they live.