Q. How long does child support last?
A. At a minimum, by statute, the duty to support a child that is imposed by
FC section 3900 continues as to an unmarried child until the age of 18 years or, if the
child remains a full-time high school student and is not yet self-supporting,
until age 19 or upon high school graduation, whichever first occurs.
FC section 3901.
You will notice that California, unlike some states, does not provide
for child support during college. Nonetheless, parents are free to agree,
and in such cases courts can order, child support extending beyond age
19. This is something worth considering in any relatively healthy dissolution
situation, and is often addressed in collaborative divorce. College expenses
are otherwise not part of a child support award.
If an adult child of any age whatever is or becomes incapacitated from
earning a living and is without sufficient means, the support duty continues
equally as between the parents as long as that condition persists.
FC section 3910. This means that the county may provide services to the adult child if
the parents don't, and later seek reimbursement from the parents.
T.W. Arnold III
