at what age can a child decide if he does not want to go by there father

I recently posted a blog about this very topic at our web site; it is a frequently asked question; while the wishes of a child is a factor in determining custody and placement and the wishes of the child are to be generally  conveyed to the court by their court appointed guardian ad litem, the wishes of the child are not controlling. In some cases, the wishes of the children may arguably be against their own best interest. Under the law, children never get to decide where they want to live or how much time they want to spend with the other parent. From a more practical perspective, while the court may be concerned about the wishes of children under the age of 13, more likely than not , the court will not be particularly persuaded by the wishes of a child under 13; after 14 years of age, the court will listen more intently to the wishes of a child and it will carry some weight and consideration in the court's decision.