In general, a parent’s support obligation ends when the child reaches the age of 18, and becomes an adult. However, there are exceptions to this general rule. The obligation can extend beyond the child’s 18th birthday if the child (1) remains unmarried, (2) is a full-time high school student, and (3) is not self-supporting. This duty terminates if any conditions are not met, or once the child completes the 12th grade or reaches the age of 19, whichever occurs first.

Both parents have an equal responsibility to provide support for their adult child if he or she is incapacitated from earning a living and is without sufficient means of support. On the other hand, an adult child who is unable to pay for a college education without parental help is not “incapacitated” within the meaning of the law.

Moreover, children under the age of 18 may be statutorily emancipated if they do any of the following:

• enters into a “valid marriage, whether or not the marriage has been dissolved”;
• goes on active duty with the US army; or
• receives a judicial declaration of emancipation.

If you are not sure when your support obligation or the other parent’s obligation expires, please contact a knowledgeable Sacramento family law attorney for a free consultation.  My phone number is 916-877-6177.