How old does a child have to be to have a voice?

A child deserves a voice even when he or she is nine months from being born. If children will be affected by the decision, they need a voice. Someone must speak for them if they can’t speak for themselves. You’ll hear people say, “The kids get to decide where they want to live when they’re 14.” That’s wrong in at least two ways. First, kids can never completely decide. Parents or a judge always make that call. Second, kids of any age can be given a voice. A judge will give increasing credibility to children as they get older, but there’s no magic to the age of 14. Third, when you don’t go to court because you’re agreeing privately, you can give your kids as much voice as you want at whatever age you want.