This answer will vary from judge to judge, but as a rule of thumb it is nearly universal that the older a child is, the more likely a judge will hear them out. Teens will obviously have much more say in where they want to be, should they choose to say. Some judges will not allow minors younger than 14 or so to be involved in custody proceedings at all, while some judges will allow some children to talk to them privately in chambers with the attorneys from each side present. If abuse is alleged beforehand, it is even more likely a judge will want to talk to the child in chambers to assess what is going on, if anything. If you are in this situation with your child, I highly suggest hiring an experienced Birmingham custody lawyer who knows how to handle these touchy situations as well as minimize stress and trauma on your child.