According to recent statistics, a considerable number of adults between the ages of 18 and 34 still live in their parents’ home. The number of 18-year-olds ready and willing to move out is extremely small, to the point where most parents today plan to have their children at home long after they graduate from high school. But what happens to child support in Georgia if your young one does not move out at age 18?
Child Support Ends at High School Graduation or 18
Child support ends when the child turns 18 or graduates from high school, whichever happens last. This means that if your child is still living at home beyond this date, neither parent will pay or receive child support. If you have been receiving child support payments throughout the child’s life, you need to be prepared for this new financial reality. If you have been paying child support, you can prepare for a lighter economic burden each month.
An Adult Child Living at Home Can Be Expensive
A child who lives at home beyond the age of 18 can be a serious economic burden. If they are not contributing to the household in any way, the parents may become responsible for the adult’s basic necessities. This is particularly true if the adult child is struggling to find a job or attending university full-time. These added costs can be doubly challenging after parents lose access to child support.
Consider an Agreement to Extend Child Support
If one parent faces the proposition of supporting the adult child financially beyond the age of 18, they may want to approach the other parent and work on some kind of formal agreement. This private agreement would essentially be an extension of child support, and it may ensure a fair financial balance between the parents until the adult child becomes self-sustaining.
Unlike an initial child support order, this agreement would be completely voluntary. The other parent could simply say no, and there would be no legal mechanism to force them to comply. This also applies to college tuition, which is not covered under normal child support. If parents have not yet agreed on child support during a divorce or breakup, they can formalize these agreements from the beginning.
Consider Asking the Adult Child to Contribute
If the other parent is not willing to continue paying child support beyond the age of 18, the parent who is “stuck” with this adult child might consider alternative pathways toward financial stability. One of the most obvious strategies is to ask the adult child to contribute financially in some way to the household. This might involve getting a job, pitching in for groceries, or paying rent for their bedroom. Even if a child is attending college, they may still have time for a part-time job.
Can a Georgia Child Support Lawyer Help Me?
A Georgia child support lawyer may be able to help if you’re wondering what will happen after your child graduates from high school or turns 18. Parents should know that without a formal agreement in place, child support always ends at this point in a child’s life. Due to new economic realities, adult children are likely to live in your home long after this point, potentially leading to serious expenses. Contact Lankford & Moore Law today to learn more.
