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Child Custody Preference Age in Vermont

Vermont's custody statute names no age and does not list the child's preference among the factors the court must consider.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Vermont at a glance

Age named in statute
No age named
How the preference is weighed
Not a listed statutory factor
The court must consider at least the listed factors; the child's preference is not one of them.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Vermont

At what age does a child's custody preference count in Vermont?

Age named in statute in Vermont: No age named.

How do courts in Vermont weigh a child's custody preference?

How the preference is weighed in Vermont: Not a listed statutory factor. The court must consider at least the listed factors; the child's preference is not one of them.

Where do the Vermont child custody preference laws come from?

The rules above come from 15 V.S.A. 665(b). Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

What this means in practice

A child's preference is rarely the only thing a court looks at. Judges also weigh each parent's ability to care for the child, the child's ties to home, school and community, and any history of abuse or conflict. A clear preference from an older, mature child can carry real weight, but it does not replace the best interests test.

Courts often hear from children privately, for example in a judge's chambers, through a guardian ad litem, or through a custody evaluator, rather than on the witness stand. The process and who may be present depend on local court rules and the judge's discretion.

Courts look closely at whether a preference is the child's own view or the result of pressure from a parent. Coaching a child or promising rewards for choosing a side can hurt a parent's case. Parents who reach their own arrangement can record it in a parenting plan or settlement agreement for the court to review.

General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.