Legal Question in Family Law in California

18. Until then, what the child wants is only one piece of information the judge considers in making a custody order. Ages 14 and up have a statutory right to tell the judge what they want, younger it is at the courts discretion whether to hear from the child. But At every age until 18, the judge must consider many other factors as well and then decide what custody and visitation orders are in the child's best interest.