When should I stop paying maintenance?

skemp1 · 15 April at 2:18PM

My son is 18 in June and is finishing 6th form in May and looking to go into work or an apprenticeship. Not full time education.

I have googled and it says that the maintenance should end when he leaves full time education.

Should I stop paying the maintenance from his 18th birthday in June?

I know this will go down like a fart in a lift with my Ex, so I just wanted to check that this is correct before it goes off.

Thanks for any advice.

maman · 15 April at 2:40PM

Others will comment more knowledgeably on the legal situation but if he's in college/school now then it's probably the end of the course or the end of term rather than his actual birthday.

When your son is 18, he will be legally an adult so there's nothing to stop you helping him out financially as you might have done in different circumstances. 🤔

Martin_the_Unjust · 15 April at 2:43PM

Whats your sons opinion?

skemp1 · 15 April at 3:12PM

Just to clarify a bit.

I have my kids (also a 15 year old girl) half the time with holidays etc included. And my Ex has moved an hour away so I have them more than I should to accommodate after school tuition.

I am not going to stop supporting my son (or my daughter) but, it will be direct to him, not to my ex wife.

I have bought him a car for £3k and am paying for all his driving lessons as a gift for his 18th.

I'm not sure what the point is of asking my son.

I've been kicking the can along the road and not wanting to rock the boat as my ex is hard to approach in that way.

Glad · 15 April at 3:16PM

As far as I remember it is the September following them leaving full time education. My son retook a year in 6th form, his birthday is the end of July, my ex paid maintenance for him until the 1st September following his 19th birthday. I'm not sure how that works if they retake both years at 6th form (if they even can)