Assumption: "A child can just refuse to see a parent, or has no say at all, depending on their age."
1 min readThis content reflects observational insights and lived community experiences. It does not constitute legal advice — always consult a qualified professional for your specific circumstances.
What People Expect
Parents sometimes assume a child's ability to have a say in contact arrangements is an all-or-nothing switch tied to a specific age, rather than something that develops gradually and is weighed alongside other factors.
Court Reality
There's no fixed age at which a child simply decides. Under about 10, a child's wishes are heard but rarely determine the outcome. Between 10 and 16, the court gives increasing weight to a child's wishes as part of the welfare checklist, depending on their age and understanding, not age alone. From around 16, a child is generally considered old enough to decide for themselves, and a Child Arrangements Order regulating time with another person will usually end at 16 rather than being enforced against a clearly unwilling teenager. At every stage, a child's wishes are one factor among several, not the deciding vote.
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The Gap?
"A child can just refuse to see a parent, or has no say at all, depending on their age."
Court Reality
There's no fixed age at which a child simply decides. Under about 10, a child's wishes are heard but rarely determine the outcome. Between 10 and 16, the court gives increasing weight to a child's wishes as part of the welfare checklist, depending on their age and understanding, not age alone. From around 16, a child is generally considered old enough to decide for themselves, and a Child Arrangements Order regulating time with another person will usually end at 16 rather than being enforced against a clearly unwilling teenager. At every stage, a child's wishes are one factor among several, not the deciding vote.
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