Child Support

questions & answers

Question: Can child support be reinstated after the age of 18 if the child is disabled and cannot work? We are currently applying for disability for her, but it has not been established yet. In the meantime, medical bills are piling up.

Answer: The following is provided for general information only. To find out how the law applies to a specific situation, please contact an attorney directly. According to A.R.S. § 25-320 (http://www.azleg.gov/FormatDocument.asp?inDoc=/ars/25/00320.htm&Title=25&DocType=ARS), even if a child is over the age of eighteen when a petition for child support is filed or at the time of the final decree, the court may order support to continue past the age of eighteen if all of the following are true: 1. The court has considered the factors prescribed in A.R.S. § 25-320(D)( http://www.azleg.gov/FormatDocument.asp?inDoc=/ars/25/00320.htm&Title=25&DocType=ARS). 2. The child is severely mentally or physically disabled. This can be demonstrated by the fact that the child is unable to live independently and be self-supporting. 3. The child's disability began before the child reached the age of eighteen. If you need legal help, visit www.AZLawHelp.org. To apply for free or reduced fee legal services visit the Access To Justice Online Intake System located in the upper right of AzLawHelp.org under the LegalLEARN section.