The Child Support Agency regulates parents’ financial obligations for their child until the child turns 18 years of age. However, many parents may be surprised to learn that a parent’s financial responsibility for their child does not necessarily cease when a child reaches the age of 18.
In Australia, section 66L of the Family Law Act 1975 provides the Court can order one or both parents to provide financial support to a child over the age of 18 (adult child maintenance) if necessary:
An application for adult child maintenance can be made by an adult child, a parent, a grandparent or any other person concerned with the care, welfare or development of the child. Issues like child custody and support may continue into adulthood depending on circumstances.
Where the application is for maintenance to enable an adult child to complete their education, the Court will consider a number of factors, including:
Where disability is a concern
When it comes to adult children with disabilities the court will consider such additional factors including thethe longevity of any such order.A person could still be eligible for adult child maintenance even if the disability arose after the child’s 18th birthday. Our experienced family lawyers in Sydney can help guide you through adult child maintenance and related issues.For more information on adult child maintenance or any other family law issue, please contact us today.
