LibraryScenariosWhen courts dismiss young children's emotional responses to custody arrangements
Scenario

When courts dismiss young children's emotional responses to custody arrangements

The judge said my 7-year-old is too young to have a say in the custody arrangement, but she has panic attacks every time she has to go to her father's house.

Juana
Online
The coach is replying

More people experience this than they realize.

What we've seen

A parent witnesses their child's distress being legally invisible due to age-based assumptions about children's capacity for self-advocacy.

Ideas that help explain it
Worth thinking about

“Where Are You with Children's rights?”

If this sounds familiar, the Library can help you find the bigger picture.