Most divorce agreements provide something to the effect that the parent paying child support must pay until the child reaches 18 years of age unless the child is still a full-time student. Usually, an adult child who is working full time is considered emancipated and therefore is generally not entitled to receive child support.
But what if the adult child is also taking full-time college courses at the same time they are working full-time? A New Jersey appeals court just overruled a divorce judge on this question. The judge had essentially ruled that such a working adult child is emancipated. Period. But the higher court said not so fast. Rather, the appeals court ruled that, in such a case, before declaring the child emancipated, the divorce judge must take testimony and receive evidence, to determine if the child has moved beyond the sphere of influence and responsibility of his parents. The fact that the child is working full-time while attending school cannot be the sole determinative factor in the decision to emancipate.
If I were representing the spouse receiving child support in a case like this, I would have moved to increase the child support paid. I imagine that it must be hard to concentrate on a full load of school credits while working full time. Let the child concentrate on his or her studies. Working part-time should be enough. In the long run, the child getting the best possible education will benefit all concerned.