Support rights

My son, now 18 has been pulled from the end of his junior year by his Mother (the custodial parent). He has failed to many classes to be able to pass through to his senior year. When does my obligation end? The guidelines indicate that at 18 and not in school, it should be over. Can I just stop paying? Was she really able to move to AZ., and I had no say in the matter?

Don't be in such a hurry to nail your son's hide to the unemployment line. At least give him a chance to get a GED. You might suggest he do that. Once that is accomplished, you might offer to finance him in a training program in something he might want to do for a living. Then perhaps you won't be faced with a do-nothing son and his mom. Your son will appreciate you much more for your support NOW than at any previous time in his life. Divorced KIDS... yes, I said kids... can be difficult, but it is up to the parent to know that the KID still needs his Dad to set him on the right course in life. It is not a money thing at this point as much as it is an advice thing. You should give him the emotional support to create his own life... not his mother's goat any more, but his own man. He needs to know that you understand how difficult it has been but that it will not get better until HE steps up to find his own way...

Starting with a review of his interest peaking trades and professions. He can get help from his school district to take tests to decide where his interests are and what he is good at doing. Then you and he can get together and decide WHAT kind of training program will get him started... and whether his first employer is likely to give him more education in his trade.

Then you need to determine the cost for tuition and books... room and board with YOU might be necessary if she still lives in a podunk area... Don't sign up for a forever in school idea, but tell him how long HE can take, tell him he will have to get a school loan on his own credit if he takes longer than that.

Then find a way to pay this one last time.

Good luck, and I hope you get what I got after my son quit school after his sophomore year... I put him into a self paced program that all states support to still get his credit hours so he could go back to his senior year. Yes, he went back and he graduated with his class. He also graduated from college and runs his own IT business and he makes more than I did working in sales for IBM. Moreover, his friends are doctors and lawyers who think he is someone special... because he has set up their offices and has many of their same interests... Fast cars, Motorcross, poker, his children are now 1 and 4 and he is delightfully married to a beautiful girl.

To boykinmama
Thanks for the advise. An outside view can always put things back into prospective. I know he will find his way and you are right about being there for guidance. Thanks again

Actually, the truth is, you cannot stop paying child support until you are given leave by the court to do so.