This week (January 1, 2012 to be exact) marks the effective date of a new law allowing children 14 years or older to provide input on custody or visitation matters in family court.
Specifically, the amendments to Family Code Section 3042 provide that the 14 or older child “shall be permitted” to address the court unless the judge determines that doing so would not be in the child’s best interest.
There has been a great deal of discussion in the family law community about whether the potential benefit of child testimony outweighs the potential detriment to the child and the parent/child relationship. Read more …
