SECTION 1. Section 31 of chapter 208 of the General Laws as appearing in the 2014 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “health” in line 19 the following paragraph:
When the child turns 12, the court must include in its judgment the child’s preferences. The court shall grant the child the option to give both oral and written testimony before a judge as a witness in court or in the judge’s chambers, or through a representative such as attorney for the child, or Guardian ad Litem regarding what the child determines to be in his or her own best interest.
SECTION 2. Section 31 of chapter 208 of the General Laws as appearing in the 2014 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “determined” in line 42 the following sentence:
When the child turns 12, the shared custody implementation plan shall also include the child’s preferences on the length and frequency of visits and the dates on which visits occur.
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