Legal Question in Family Law in California

Financial responsibility of parents

I am planning to marry next year.My finance has a 17 year old child. I am holding off on marriage until the kid reaches 18. Somewhere I read that if a child does not complete high school @ 18 the parent is still financialy responsible? Is this true? and for how long?


Asked on 6/30/99, 8:03 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Matthew Kremer Law Offices of Matthew M. Kremer

Re: Financial responsibility of parents

You are a little bit confused. You have no obligation to support an adult (over 18) stepchild. You are obligated to support a minor stepchild so long as the child is living in your home.

The "age 18" relates to the obligation of the child's biological parents to support him/her. Child support continues to age 18 unless the child is still fulltime high school in which case the obligation to pay support continues to graduation or age 19, whichever occurs first. This does not apply to step-parents.

REALITY: Very few 18 year olds move out of the home. Legal responsibility or not, you will be supporting the kid until who knows when. Personal decision time.

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Answered on 7/08/99, 10:20 pm


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