Does Maintenance End

Stanford

I am separated for almost 10 years and have always paid the Court agreed monthly maintenance. However when does it end. I have read somewhere that a child becomes a "non-dependent" when he/she reaches either 23 or ceases full-time education whichever is the soonest ?

Advice please?

Atlantic Dawn

23 if the child stays in full time education, 18 if they don't and don't want to...

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/birth_family_relationships/separation_and_divorce/maintenance_orders_and_agreements.html

Stanford

I have read the Citizens Info material, my issue is that my 23 year old will finish up in third level education before she reaches the age of 23, so at the age of 22 she will be be finished her degree and ready to enter the workplace, she will no longer then be a dependant in my view, is this the actual position regarding paying maintenance?

RuckingSwimmer

In my parents' case it was 23 or finished full time education, whichever came first. In my case, I was still in college at 24 but Dad stopped paying maintenance for me when I turned 23. In my sister's case, she finished college at 22 so the maintenance stopped when she finished college.

I would have thought it all depends on what was written in the separation/maintenance agreement though.

Stanford

That the problem RS, the Separation Agreement does not mention an end date so I have to look to the law, my information is that I can legally cease paying maintenance once my older Daughter reaches 22 at the end of her full time degree as this is the earlier applicable date. However what if she subverts this by going on to do a Masters as I think she intends to be a professional student at my expense!!