Child Support for Young Adults: Portland Divorce Mediation

Child Support for Adult Children of Divorced Parents in Oregon

• ​Oregon law (ORS 107.108) provides that children (age 18-20) of divorced parents are entitled to child support if they are attending school and meet certain statutory requirements.
  
• If at least one child of your marriage or relationship is 18-20 years of age and meets the criteria for a child attending school as defined by ORS 107.108, the Oregon Child Support Guideline Calculator worksheet must be completed and included in your divorce paperwork.
  
• If you also have one or more minor children, the workshet will include the minor child(ren) and the adult child(ren) on the same worksheet.

Information Needed to Calculate Child Support for Adult Children in Oregon

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The information needed to calculate child support for eligible adult children is the same as the list of information to calculate child support for minor children: 

• Each party's earned income or investment income from all sources
• Each party's union dues, if any
• The amount of any Social Security disability benefits received by either party
• ​The cost of each party's individual health insurance
• The additional cost to cover the children on a parent's health insurance, over and above what the parent would pay for just the parent's own coverage
• The amount of spousal support, if any, paid (or to be paid) or received (or to be received) by either party, whether from the current marriage or any previous marriage

Common Mistakes and Oversights

• Some people believe that child support for college students continues to be paid by one parent to the other parent, but that is not so. Adult children receive the child support directly.
• If you have a 529 Plan or other college savings account, I will ask you some additional questions about the source of the funds and the extent to which they can satisfy the child support obligation.
• Even if you have tentatively agreed that you will handle the child(ren)'s expenses informally and do not wish to exchange child support, you must still complete the child support worksheet.
• The child support calculation provided by the worksheet is not absolute. It is a presumptive amount using the state's formula, but it is only a guideline. It can be modified by agreement. Further, you can include stipulations in the Marital Settlement Agreement that child support will be paid for longer or in a greater amount than what would be required by law.
• There are important facts that many people do not know about the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which can cause problems for divorcing parties and for the children of divorced parents if not anticipated. ​​

How I Can Assist You in Mediation

• I will help you avoid the above-listed mistakes and oversights, and he will compute the guideline child support amount for you.
• I will explain how these requirements may apply to your case. 
• I will suggest other expenses that you may wish to consider allotting in your agreement on behalf of your children.
• I will meet with your adult child to explain his or her role in the process and the form that she or he will be asked to sign.
• I will discuss with you some FAFSA tips. I will help you sort out how best to structure the child support and the ownership of any college savings accounts or 529 Plans that you may have so that your child is in a better position, if possible, for college financial aid.​

Schedule a 90-minute in-person or Zoom introduction (first hour is always FREE)
​or a 30-minute free "meet-and-greet" as soon as you're ready to begin mediation.