Until the age of 16, a kid cannot legally chose who they wish to live with. However, if there is a child arrangement order in place that stipulates where a kid should reside, this can be extended to 17 or 18. In other words, a kid can choose who they want to live with at any time before it's too late. There are several reasons why a judge might deny a request from an 11-year-old to move away from their parents: if doing so would be detrimental to the child's well-being; if the parent refusing the request has good reason for wanting the child to stay; or if another family member or friend is willing and able to take care of the child. In general, kids under 12 don't really understand the importance of keeping agreements they make with others. This is not only true for moving away from home, but also shopping with their friends, eating in restaurants, etc. Even though they may want to keep their promise, if they feel like it can be done without hurting themselves or someone else, they will break their word and do whatever it takes to get what they want. However, around age 12, a kid's understanding of responsibility increases and they start thinking about the long term. They begin to realize that making promises means something and that breaking them hurts others.