Simple answer – no. This depends heavily on a number of factors, most notably the judge who is hearing the case. Having tried cases all over the tri-state area, our attorneys have discovered that it is clear some judges give the child’s wishes great weight depending on their age, maturity, and reasons for their decision. Other judges are very clear that children should be left out of the trial experience completely. Determining how to let the judge know about a child’s wishes is a decision to make with your lawyer, and the answer varies widely depending upon the facts of a particular case.