Most parents assume they will not be financially responsible for their children once they reach adulthood. Parents may need to adjust their expectations if they have a child with a significant disability.
Sometimes parents of disabled adult children are ordered to pay extended child support in Fairfield. Speak with an experienced child support attorney at Dolan Divorce Lawyers to learn about child support for disabled adult children.
When co-parents live apart, the non-custodial parent contributes to the cost of raising the children through child support. The amount is based on published guidelines, with adjustments that may apply in specific circumstances.
In most cases, child support ends when a child turns 18 or graduates from high school, whichever occurs later. Support may end earlier if a minor becomes emancipated.
Child support also may continue when a child has a disability that prevents independent living. Divorcing parents of a young child with disabilities may not yet know the full extent of the child’s impairment at the time of divorce. It is important to discuss this issue with a Fairfield attorney, who could include a provision in the child support agreement that allows the court to retain jurisdiction after the child reaches adulthood, if necessary.
Connecticut General Statutes §46b-84(c)(1) allows a judge to order child support to continue until the child turns 26 in some cases. The child must have a physical, intellectual, or mental disability, live with one parent, and remain dependent on the parents for basic needs.
This form of child support is called supplemental support, and the amount is not based on the published guidelines. Instead, Connecticut law directs judges to evaluate the following factors for each parent and the child:
When evaluating the child, the judge will consider whether the child might obtain remunerative employment at some point.
A parent must show that the child qualifies for child support under this statute. A Connecticut judge may review medical and education records and request a detailed description of the child’s daily needs. An experienced Fairfield child support attorney could help a parent assemble the information needed to support a request for supplemental child support.
A judge has no authority to order child support for an adult child who is 26 or older. Ideally, parents cooperate to create a financial arrangement that meets the child’s needs.
Parents sometimes choose to continue an existing child support arrangement outside court supervision. They may enter a written agreement to formalize the arrangement so it is enforceable as a contract. Alternatively, parents may fund a special needs trust to preserve eligibility for government benefits while providing a more comfortable quality of life.
Other options may exist depending on the circumstances of the parents and child. A Fairfield attorney could help parents develop a strategy to support a child’s continued well-being. Involving an estate planning professional is wise when creating long-term financial plans for a disabled adult child.
Extended child support in Fairfield can help bridge the gap when standard child support obligations end. Child support in Fairfield is not permanent—a judge cannot enforce a child support order for an adult child who is 26 or older. However, supplemental support may provide a path toward longer-term arrangements in appropriate circumstances.
Contact us for help with all aspects of child support.
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