#6.4 Co-parenting, Money, and Adult Children

Where's the Lemonade?

In the world of blended families, navigating issues related to co-parenting adult children can be complex and challenging. Some familiar questions might center on the financial responsibility of each parent in relation to costs like college fees, health insurance, and other unforeseen expenses. This post examines the convolutions faced by co-parents, particularly with regards to shared-cost decisions and financial commitments to their adult children.

Financial Responsibility and Legal Gray Areas

The transition of children from dependents to independent adults sometimes leaves co-parents in gray areas regarding who pays for what. For instance, health insurance is a significant aspect that often falls into this gray area. Under Obamacare, children can retain their health coverage under their parent's insurance until they are 26. This is a great relief for parents who, like Darren, incurred no additional cost in providing health insurance for their older children.

However, the issue of who should handle unexpected medical bills is more complex. A real-life example shows that deciding who should foot the bill can be contentious when an adult child falls sick while visiting one parent. These kinds of situations can cause disagreements and stress for both parents and the young adult. Therefore, the need for clearly delineated responsibilities in such scenarios is very apparent.

The Shared Cost Concept

The challenges encountered in dealing with unexpected bills for grown-up children may require parents to rethink the tenets of sharing costs. A couple of questions arise in such situations. For instance, do both parents have equal decision-making rights? And does who pays what influence these decisions? These issues can be pretty knotty, with the child often stuck in the middle of the confusion.

As Paige discovered, the problem of how to split costs for adult children among divorced couples needs to be more well-researched. An apparent solution is to specify how to share financial responsibilities for adult children in the divorce decree. Despite its obvious benefits, the downside to this idea may be its potential to hinder the young adult's drive towards financial independence or completion of college.

Maintaining Financial Integrity among Co-parenting Adults

Recognizing that co-parenting doesn't necessarily end when a child turns eighteen is critical. More than ever, co-parents must set clear boundaries and communicate effectively about their financial responsibilities towards their adult children. Doing so removes any ambiguity and reduces the chances of misunderstanding. As Paige emphasizes, drafting these boundaries can help keep the young adult away from the potentially negative impacts of financial disputes.

Conclusion

Navigating financial responsibilities toward grown-up children as co-parents requires a delicate balance. Parents must consider fostering their children's independence while maintaining fairness and equity in shouldering expenses. The entire process is a learning experience, but ultimately, it underscores the need for clear communication and mutual understanding among co-parents.

Lemonade Moment of the Week

We went to Texas to see the total eclipse. The skies were covered in clouds, and we thought we were not going to see the eclipse after all. Then, the clouds parted just in time, and it was cloudy again right after the eclipse. We were ready to find lemonade even if we didn't see the eclipse. One cute baby made the trip-- totally worth it!

Links

https://newdirectionfamilylaw.com/blog/child-support/what-happens-when-a-child-of-divorced-parents-turns-18/

Outline

* Typically when kids turn 18 and graduate from high school, child support and co-parenting ends. What is in your divorce decree for when the kids turn 18? Is that important to add?

* Just David left at home. Still has a custody schedule. What about when college kids come home? Do they follow the schedule? What about next summer after our last one has graduated, do we still do a summer schedule for him?

* Who pays for what after the kids turn 18? Medical? Dental? College? Flights home? Computers? Cars? Car insurance?

* Are you putting the kids in the middle of you and your ex? Are you doing what is best for the child or just wanting to stick it to your ex still? Check yourself.

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