Child Maintenance Question

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Dub1977

Registered User
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Child maintenance is paid up to 18 or up to 23 if in full time education.

Question: from the point the dependant completes their leaving certificate exams in June, they have completed their full time education in secondary school, college doesn't commence until Sept or Oct in most colleges/universities. Does the child maintenance have to be paid in the period July, Aug & Sept up to the point the dependent starts college?

Note: And if the dependant who is 18, is working full-time for the summer period and contributing to the spouses household (heating & electricity bills) and not dependant for any other needs (i.e. clothing, phone etc) as they are earning their own money, why would the ex-husband pay for those months, and there is no certainty that the dependant will go to college and just work full time or do an apprenticeship, depending on what CAO offers they get.
 
Dub1977 said:
child maintenance have to be paid in the period July, Aug & Sept up to the point the dependent starts college
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IANAL I don't recall ever seeing an order for maintenance to be suspended for the summer months. Housing, utilities, food all still have to be paid.
 
The leaving certificate can finish at the end of June and college can start the 2nd week of September. So we are talking about 10 weeks absolutely maximum there. I think that the father should be grateful his child is motivated to work and thinks it's important to contribute to his expenses.
 
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My husband paid maintenance over summer for his son while he went from Leaving Cert into college.
He stopped paying it the day after he dropped out of college, son is 20 and currently working.
If he goes back to college it will be reinstated immediately until age 23.
 
my advise was to continue paying only when the dependant finishes college to stop, unless the dependant doesn't go to college and does an apprenticeship or full time work, then maintenance stops after the leaving cert
 
DannyBoyD said:
IANAL I don't recall ever seeing an order for maintenance to be suspended for the summer months. Housing, utilities, food all still have to be paid.
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it could be argued if the 18yr old is finished school and working, the 18yr should contribute to the house they are living in (regardless of the parental marriage situation). I know when I was growing up late teens into my early twenties I had to give up money each week from my part-time job over summer months and while i studied in college for heating & food costs as my parents struggled with bills at times. It was best life lesson i ever got, as there is no such thing as a free lunch or dinner for that matter.
 
Dub1977 said:
my advise was to continue paying only when the dependant finishes college to stop, unless the dependant doesn't go to college and does an apprenticeship or full time work, then maintenance stops after the leaving cert
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You mean advice that you were given or that you gave? I.e. are you the parent in question or is it someone else?

Sounds ridiculously cheap for a parent to be looking to stop child maintenance payments for a few weeks over the summer between LC and college.

And if there's a court order governing the maintenance payments it would be foolhardy to stop paying unilaterally unless the order allows for this.
 
ClubMan said:
You mean advice that you were given or that you gave? I.e. are you the parent in question or is it someone else?

Sounds ridiculously cheap for a parent to be looking to stop child maintenance payments for a few weeks over the summer between LC and college.

And if there's a court order governing the maintenance payments it would be foolhardy to stop paying unilaterally unless the order allows for this.
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I think a bit unfair to say cheap - we don't know their financial status.

My husband works 2 jobs to maintain his children and in turn I maintain him, it's hard at times, I don't have my own kids, but I am making financial sacrifices for other peoples children, sometimes I would like a break lol!
 
DannyBoyD said:
You mean your step-children?
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Yes they are my step children legally, but they have a mother, I am not a replacement, there is a line and I do not pass it.
(we have a great relationship btw they are amazing kids, but I am not a natural care giver so I have had to work hard to get to this stage!)
 
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