How long do parents have a duty to support their unemancipated child who remains in high school?

How long do parents have a duty to support their unemancipated child who remains in high school?

• A. Indefinitely
• B. Until the child is 18 or out of high school.
• C. Until the child turns 21
• D. Only until the child graduates high school

Answer: (B)

The duty to support an unemancipated child is tied to two milestones: reaching the age of majority and completing high school. If the child is still in high school, the obligation continues beyond age 18 to cover that schooling. If the child is not in high school at 18, the obligation ends. That’s why the best answer is that support lasts until the child turns 18 or finishes high school—whichever comes first after 18 if they’ve left school, or until graduation if they remain in school. The other options don’t capture both triggers: indefinite support isn’t the rule, 21 is not the standard cutoff, and only until graduation would incorrectly end the duty for a child who is still in high school after turning 18.

The duty to support an unemancipated child is tied to two milestones: reaching the age of majority and completing high school. If the child is still in high school, the obligation continues beyond age 18 to cover that schooling. If the child is not in high school at 18, the obligation ends. That’s why the best answer is that support lasts until the child turns 18 or finishes high school—whichever comes first after 18 if they’ve left school, or until graduation if they remain in school. The other options don’t capture both triggers: indefinite support isn’t the rule, 21 is not the standard cutoff, and only until graduation would incorrectly end the duty for a child who is still in high school after turning 18.