July 27, 2012
Judge Tom
0

Judge Tom

Dear Anon: We’re sorry to hear about your situation at home. If your mother and stepdad end up in court for a divorce, the judge may want to hear from you about your preference regarding who you live with. You need to let the adults in your life know how you feel. The court could appoint a lawyer to represent you or a guardian to speak for you in the divorce hearing. Don’t keep your feelings to yourself – tell someone you trust and if not one of your parents, another adult relative. Every state has laws about child custody and the bottom line is always what’s in your best interests. Good luck.

Judge Tom

The Author Judge Tom

Judge Tom is the founder and moderator of AsktheJudge.info. He is a retired juvenile judge and spent 23 years on the bench. He has written several books for lawyers and judges as well as teens and parents including 'Teen Cyberbullying Investigated' (Free Spirit Publishing) and 'Every Vote Matters: the Power of Your Voice, from Student Elections to the Supreme Court' (Free Spirit Publishing). In 2020, the American Bar Association published "Cyberbullying Law," the nation's first case-law book written for lawyers, judges and law students. When he's not answering teens' questions, Judge Tom volunteers with the American Red Cross and can be found hiking, traveling and reading.

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