Child Support
Child Support for Adult Children in School or Living at Home in BC
Shergill Law Corporation30 September 20267 min read
In British Columbia, child support does not automatically stop the day a child turns 19. A child over the age of majority who is still enrolled in full-time post-secondary studies, or who cannot support themselves for other reasons, can still be considered a "child" for support purposes under the Divorce Act and BC's Family Law Act, which means support may continue well past age 19 in the right circumstances.
When Does Child Support Continue Past Age 19?
Support for an adult child generally continues where the child:
- Is enrolled in full-time post-secondary education and reasonably pursuing that education
- Cannot withdraw from their parents' charge due to illness, disability, or other cause
- Is still living at home and financially dependent in a way the court considers reasonable given the family's circumstances
This is different from support for a child with a disability, which we cover separately in our article on child support for a disabled adult in BC. Here, we're focused on the far more common scenario: a child in college or university, or a recent graduate still living at home while they get established.
How Much Support Is Payable for an Adult Child?
The federal Child Support Guidelines table amount, calculated from the paying parent's income, still applies to many adult-child cases, but courts have discretion to depart from the table amount where a strict table calculation would not be appropriate, such as when the child lives away at school, has their own income from a part-time job, or receives scholarships and grants. In these situations, support is often calculated differently, and post-secondary costs (tuition, residence, books) may be treated as a shared "special expense" split between both parents based on income, in addition to or instead of the table amount.
- The child's own financial contribution (income, savings, scholarships) is usually factored in
- Both parents' incomes are generally considered when sharing post-secondary costs
- The child's program, course load, and reasonable progress toward their degree are relevant
What If the Child Still Lives at Home?
Many families, including many of the South Asian families we work with in Surrey, expect adult children to live at home through university or college, and sometimes for a period after graduation while they establish their career. BC courts have recognized that a child living at home while in full-time studies can still be entitled to support, though the amount may be adjusted to reflect reduced housing and living costs compared to a child living away at school. This is a fact-specific analysis, and reasonable people, including separated parents, often disagree about what counts as "reasonable" ongoing support for an adult child living at home.
When Does Support End for an Adult Child?
Support for an adult child typically ends when the child:
- Completes their education or withdraws from full-time studies without a recognized reason
- Becomes financially self-supporting
- Is no longer pursuing education in good faith (for example, repeatedly failing to complete courses with no explanation)
There is no single fixed age cut-off. Each situation depends on the child's circumstances, which means disputes about when support should end are common and often benefit from either mediation or a clear written agreement rather than an ongoing informal arrangement.
What Parents Can Do
- Revisit your separation agreement or court order if it does not clearly address post-secondary support, rather than relying on an informal understanding.
- Keep records of tuition, residence costs, and the child's own income or scholarships each year.
- Reassess support annually as the child's program, income, and living situation change.
- Where parents disagree, mediation is often faster and less expensive than returning to court over support for an adult child.
Why this comes up so often: It is common for separated parents to assume child support simply ends at 19, then find themselves in a dispute two years later when one parent is still covering the bulk of a child's university costs. Getting this addressed clearly while your child is still young, or as soon as they approach post-secondary age, avoids a harder conversation later.
Frequently asked questions
Does child support automatically stop at 19 in BC?
No. Support can continue past 19 if the child is enrolled in full-time post-secondary studies, cannot support themselves due to illness or disability, or is otherwise unable to withdraw from their parents' charge, depending on the specific circumstances.
Is the amount of support the same for an adult child as for a younger child?
Not always. Courts have discretion to adjust the table amount for an adult child, particularly where the child lives away at school, has their own income, or receives scholarships. Post-secondary costs are often shared between parents as a special expense in addition to or instead of the table amount.
Do we still have to pay support if our adult child lives at home during school?
Possibly, though the amount may be adjusted to reflect lower living costs compared to a child living away at school. Support is based on the child's actual circumstances rather than a fixed rule.
When does support for an adult child actually end?
There is no fixed age cut-off. Support generally ends when the child finishes or withdraws from full-time studies without a recognized reason, or becomes financially self-supporting.
This article provides general information about British Columbia law for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws change and every family's circumstances are different. Please contact Shergill Law Corporation or another qualified lawyer for advice about your specific situation before acting on anything you read here.