When it comes to child custody there are ALOT of factors. In a decent amount of cases In many states, including Washington, courts in custody cases may consider the wishes of a child in terms of which parent he would prefer to live with after the divorce is granted. Children usually gravitate towards to their mother rather than a father, whether it is a socially determined or bioligical is at some irrelevant in this discussion. A judge will examine each parent’s work schedule, living arrangements, and other factors that may influence his or her ability to effectively parent the children. The judge will also consider what the children in the case have to say, to an extent. Parents can easily influence or intimidate younger children who cannot articulate their thoughts very well, but a judge may earnestly consider the wishes of a child around the age of 12 or older. The judge will likely also wish to hear from family members and friends of the family to determine which parent should receive primary custody. An older child is more likely than a younger child to give a "reasoned" explanation to the court concerning where he wants to live. According to the American Bar Association, some judges won't listen to a child under the age of seven, assuming the child is too young to have an informed opinion. If an older child expresses a strong desire to live with one parent as opposed to the other, the court often will honor his preference.
