In child custody disputes, the court must always prioritise the welfare of the child. Under the Children Act 1989, one factor the court considers is the child’s wishes and feelings, but how much weight these hold depends on the child’s age and maturity. While older children may have their views taken more seriously, these preferences are not the final deciding factor.  The court typically listens to a child’s preferences when they are old enough to understand the situation, but there is no fixed age. The older and more mature the child, the more influence their wishes will have.