Adult child maintenance for over 18s

Child support is usually paid until a child turns 18.

If a child over 18 can’t support themselves, they can still receive financial support for education expenses or if they have a disability.

When you need legal advice

Get legal advice if you:

  • want to apply for adult child maintenance for over 18s
  • are being asked to continue payments for a child over 18 and you disagree about the payments.

How to get legal advice

Child support is usually paid until a child turns 18. It may be stopped early if the child:

  • becomes self-sufficient
  • marries or enters into a defacto or marriage like relationship
  • is adopted

If children over 18 can’t support themselves, a court can order parents to continue to provide financial support because they:

  • are completing their secondary or tertiary education (e.g. secondary school, TAFE, university, apprenticeship)
    or
  • have a mental or physical disability.

This is called adult child maintenance.

If a child will turn 18 while completing their final year of secondary school, the parent receiving payments or the child can apply to Services Australia to extend support until the end of the school year. The application needs to be made before the child turns 18.

The amount of maintenance to be paid will depend on the child’s necessary expenses, each parent’s financial position and their situation.

Parents can make their own agreement or file consent orders in court (where both parents agree to the orders). If an agreement can’t be reached, the court can decide the amount to be paid. A court order for ongoing payments can be registered for collection with the Services Australia and can be paid to the parent or the child.

Get legal advice

We can give legal advice about child support matters.

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Disclaimer: This content is for general purposes only and not legal advice. If you have a legal problem, please contact us or speak to a lawyer. View our full disclaimer.

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