A child doesn't choose, the court decides. A child can only give input to a court on where they want to live. If you can, it's best for the child if both parents can discuss the residency decision in an amicable fashion and decide for themselves where the child should reside. Most kids should not make that type of decision as the parents know best, but of course the parents can take the child's preference into consideration.

There is no set age at which a child can choose which parent to live with. The family court judge will make this decision based on the maturity level of the child, the child's expressed desire for one parent over the other, and other information obtained from various places regarding which parent may be better able to provide supervision and quality of living for the child.

If im not mistaken once tha court has made there decision, once the child is 12 yr old they can make the decion to chance for themself. Thats the way it was about 5 yrs ago.

A Child's Choice: What Is The Right Age For A Child To Choose Which Parent To Live With? http://cabaraoke.newsvine.com/_news/2008/12/01/2165344-a-childs-choice-what-is-the-right-age-for-a-child-to-choose-which-parent-to-live-with The child can demand Joint Custody of them, and not the other way around. They can be told that the children need to remain in the home and each parent can live there for three weeks, than switch. Once a week the parent not in residence takes the children out to dinner. While in the home, the parent does not date or have overnight guests, other than relatives. On the off weeks, the parent rents a room, stays with relatives or friends, or they can split the cost of a one bedroom apartment that they share. The priority here is the children not having their lives disrupted by the choices of the parents. The parents' lives are equally disrupted and they split the cost of being in the home. If child support is ordered, both parents can pay into a trust fund that pays out to cover the children’s expenses. Anything over and above those expenses remains there to collect interest and goes toward a college education. When the children are grown, and completely out of the home, than the property can be sold or whatever the parents want to do with it. This is called Bird Nest Custody. The children remain in the nest and the bird take turns being there. http://tinyurl.com/GiveKidsAChoice

A Child's Choice: What Is The Right Age For A Child To Choose Which Parent To Live With? http://cabaraoke.newsvine.com/_news/2008/12/01/2165344-a-childs-choice-what-is-the-right-age-for-a-child-to-choose-which-parent-to-live-with The child can demand Joint Custody of them, and not the other way around. They can be told that the children need to remain in the home and each parent can live there for three weeks, than switch. Once a week the parent not in residence takes the children out to dinner. While in the home, the parent does not date or have overnight guests, other than relatives. On the off weeks, the parent rents a room, stays with relatives or friends, or they can split the cost of a one bedroom apartment that they share. The priority here is the children not having their lives disrupted by the choices of the parents. The parents' lives are equally disrupted and they split the cost of being in the home. If child support is ordered, both parents can pay into a trust fund that pays out to cover the children’s expenses. Anything over and above those expenses remains there to collect interest and goes toward a college education. When the children are grown, and completely out of the home, than the property can be sold or whatever the parents want to do with it. This is called Bird Nest Custody. The children remain in the nest and the bird take turns being there. http://tinyurl.com/GiveKidsAChoice