International Child Custody Cases involving the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of Child Abduction allow for a child of sufficient age and maturity to make their wishes known. This is the second defense to a wrongful retention or parental abduction case.

Every court has their own rules and opinions on when a child is of sufficient age and maturity to express their desires to the court. However in California that age is generally between the age of 12 and over, depending on the maturity of the child.

In Los Angeles, cases have allowed children to testify through a specially appointed lawyer to represent them, calleda Minor’s Counsel. they have also spoken with the judicial officer in chambers, in open court or with a court appointed child custody evaluator or mental health professional.