Do the wishes of a child have any influence in custody decisions in Mississippi?

Mississippi law is that a 12 year old may make an election as to which parent they wish to reside. However, the court always utilizes the 12 Albright factors to make custodial decisions, so the child’s choice is only one factor, so while they do get an election that doesn’t necessarily mean the court is going to honor that. If it would be in the child’s best interest to go with the parent who was not elected by the child, then that’s where the court is going to place the child. Always looking for what’s in the best interest of the child. Sometimes kids just don’t know what’s best for them.