Our Vancouver Adult Child Support lawyers read with interest a recent case where Vancouver adult child support payments were modestly reduced because the child was over 19 years and working part time. Many parents asked to pay child support for children out of high school ask what their Vancouver adult child support obligation is. Often these parents remember they paid for all or part of their post secondary education and wonder why they are obliged to pay full Vancouver adult child support. Should a child be encouraged to take baby steps to independence so they develop self confidence and a sense of financial responsibility? Our skilled child support lawyers at MacLean Family Law handle hundreds of Vancouver adult child support cases and we are Western Canada’s largest family law firm and one of the highest rated Vancouver Adult Child Support firms in BC. Meet with our skilled Vancouver adult child support lawyers to come up with a plan that balances the needs of a child to get an education to be competitive in today’s modern economy while ensuring that child recognizes their own role in starting on their way to being a productive member of society who recognizes the value of a dollar. Call us toll free at 1-877-602-9900 if you have a tricky Vancouver Adult Child Support question.
Vancouver Adult Child Support
CHILD SUPPORT MAY BE REDUCED TO ACCOUNT FOR WHAT THE CHILD CONTRIBUTES TO THEIR OWN FINANCIAL STABILITY
Child support is on obligation owed from a parent to their child. Generally, the obligation to pay child support ends when the child turns 19 if they are self sufficient. However, a variety of circumstances can extend the amount of child support owed – very commonly, this occurs when children decide to pursue post-secondary studies. Disputes often arise where a child becomes older than 19, and the paying parent wants to stop paying child support or wants to encourage their child to take some responsibility for paying a portion of the Vancouver Adult Child Support.
Recent Vancouver Adult Child Support Case Gives Credit For Child’s Ability To Make Modest Contribution
In LMW v RLW, 2016 BCSC 758, “MW,” the child of the marriage turned 19. The paying parent, whose income for the purposes of child support was $361,567.94, wanted to pay less than the $2,883.85 specified by the federal Child Support Guidelines.
The court found that, because MW was 19 years old and making some income while studying part-time, the child amount should be very modestly reduced to reflect MW’s ability to self-support. In LMW v RLW the court reduced child support to $2,500 per month from $2,833.85:
[33] The court has discretion under s. 3(2) to decide whether or not to deviate from the guideline support payable for an adult child “having regard to the condition, means, needs and other circumstances of the child and the financial ability of each spouse to contribute to the support of the child.” This may be particularly important in situations where an adult child attends school away from home or is making a significant income. In those situations the court has the flexibility to order a corresponding reduction in the parent’s support obligation to reflect the decreasing financial burden on the recipient spouse.
[34] In this situation, although M.W. is attending post-secondary and working on a part-time basis, her living arrangements (remaining resident in the claimant’s home) and expenses arising from that arrangement are not significantly different from those incurred when she was a minor.
[37] I find that child support of $2,500 per month is appropriate in the circumstances of this case. This amount reflects a modest reduction of the otherwise appropriate Guidelines amount, which reduction reflects M.W.’s ability to contribute to her overall living expenses.
[38] The respondent will pay to the claimant monthly child support for M.W. in the amount of $2,500 commencing September 1, 2015 and payable on the first day of each month thereafter. As the parties anticipated, there will be an accounting between them and adjustments made based on this order and the support the respondent has paid to date.
Our child support lawyers have helped hundreds of parents ensure that their children are getting all the support they deserve from their parent, and to make sure parties know where the legal obligation to pay child support ends.
