When is Adult Child Support Ordered in Illinois?

 Posted on September 26, 2025 in Child Support

Most parents understand that child support typically ends when their child reaches age 18 or graduates from high school. However, Illinois law has two situations where parents may be required to support adult children. These include college expenses and children with disabilities. These payments are different from traditional child support and have different requirements. They can last for longer or shorter than normal child support.

The Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act deals with these types of adult support separately. There are also different standards for when courts will order them. As of September 2025, Illinois is one of the few states that can tell parents to pay for college expenses for their adult children. Our Wheaton child support attorneys can help you learn more. 

What is the Difference Between Adult Child Support and College Support?

True adult child support is for children with disabilities who cannot support themselves. This type of support can go on indefinitely, potentially for the child's lifetime. Educational support covers college-related expenses for children who need help to get a degree or job training. 

The biggest difference is in the child's ability to become financially independent. A disabled adult child who cannot work may receive true adult support indefinitely. A college student receives educational support for a limited time for education purposes only, with the expectation that they will support themselves after graduation.

Illinois courts handle these two types of support under different sections of state law. Section 513 of the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act governs educational support. Section 506 addresses support for disabled adult children.

When Can Illinois Courts Make Parents Pay for College?

Illinois courts can make parents help pay for their child's college when the child needs money and does well enough in school. Courts look at many things before ordering college support. This includes how much money the parents have, the child’s grades, and whether the child has applied for financial aid. College support usually ends when the child turns 23 years old. However, for "good cause shown," support can continue until age 25 if the child is still in school.

DuPage County courts often see college support cases for students at local schools like College of DuPage, Wheaton College, and other area schools. Parents may still have to pay, even if they do not like their child's college choice or career path. But courts do check if the school program makes sense and will help the child get a job.

What Do Courts Look At When Ordering Adult College Support?

Illinois law says courts must look at several things before ordering college support. These include:

• How much money both parents have

• How well the child does in school

• How much money the child needs

• What kind of lifestyle the child would have had if the parents stayed married

• How much money the child has from jobs or financial aid

Courts also check if the child applied for financial aid, scholarships, and grants. A child who will not fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid without a good reason might not get parental support. The law expects students to try other ways to pay for school before making parents pay.

How well the child does in school is also very important. Courts might say no to college support or let parents stop paying if students do not keep up at least a C grade average. Some court orders require students to keep a certain grade point average to keep getting support.

When Do Parents Have to Support Adult Children with Disabilities?

Illinois law says parents must keep supporting adult children who cannot support themselves because of physical or mental disabilities. Unlike college support, this has no age limit and can last the child's whole life.

First, courts check if the adult child's disability stops them from working enough to support themselves. The disability must be serious and ongoing, not temporary problems that might get better with time or treatment.

Parents should know this support continues even if the disabled adult child gets government benefits like Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income. But courts will consider these benefits when deciding how much support to order so there is no duplication of government help.

What Happens if Parents Refuse to Pay Court-Ordered Support?

Court-ordered adult child support and college support must be paid by law. Parents who refuse to pay face the same punishments used for regular child support, including having money taken from paychecks, having property taken, and contempt of court cases.

Illinois courts can hold parents in contempt for not paying, which can mean fines, jail time, or both. The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services can also help with collection by taking money from paychecks and other methods.

College support orders often require parents to pay the school directly instead of giving money to the child. This prevents fights between parents and children and makes sure the money goes to school costs.

How Do Parents Change Adult Support Orders?

Both types of adult support orders can be changed when necessary. Parents who lose jobs, become disabled, or have other major income changes can ask to reduce or stop support.

For college support, changes might happen if the child changes schools, drops out, or does not keep up grades. Parents must show that the change will continue and is not just temporary.

Disabled adult children might also have changes that affect support. If their condition gets better and they can work, support might be reduced or stopped. If their condition gets worse, they might need more help.

Call a Wheaton, Illinois Adult Child Support Attorney

Understanding adult child support rules helps parents make good decisions about their money and their children's needs. The DuPage County, IL family law attorneys at The Stogsdill Law Firm, P.C. have over 100 years of combined experience with these complicated cases. As a well-respected firm, we understand how Illinois courts handle adult support issues and can help you work through these situations. Contact our team at 630-462-9500 to talk about your family's situation and learn how we can help you with adult child support.