Are you still a child at 25?

danielanthony · 12 Dec 2012 at 15:28

http://www.divorcelawscotland.com/news/students-to-sue-parents-for-university-fees.html

What most parents (whether separated, divorced or still together) are probably not aware of however, is that if their child embarks upon higher education, then as the child’s parents, they have a legal obligation to continue to support that child financially from age 18 until the child turns 25.

Scotland only, but this seems a bit unreasonable to me. I think that if you're considered old enough to go to university then you are basically an adult and should be able to support yourself financially.

For the record, I took 2 years out after college and saved up £10k for uni, I even paid my parents £300pm rent. This was back in 1999 and I didn't have to pay fee's as my parents didn't earn enough - means tested back then. I also had two jobs whilst studying and my parents only contributed the Tesco's money off vouchers they had managed to save up. I still left with 3 years worth of student loans and an overdraft to pay off but that was my choice and I didn't expect my parents to pay for it.

TL&DR - Entitlement culture nowadays, blah blah blah

Castiel · 12 Dec 2012 at 15:30

Short answer No, you are not a child at 25.

Mat · 12 Dec 2012 at 15:30

When I was a kid we had to walk to school, up hill... both ways :mad:

Beerbaron · 12 Dec 2012 at 15:30

if the student was going to uni in Scotland and the parent lived in England what would happen then?

gigeorge · 12 Dec 2012 at 15:33

danielanthony said:
http://www.divorcelawscotland.com/news/students-to-sue-parents-for-university-fees.html

What most parents (whether separated, divorced or still together) are probably not aware of however, is that if their child embarks upon higher education, then as the child’s parents, they have a legal obligation to continue to support that child financially from age 18 until the child turns 25.

Scotland only, but this seems a bit unreasonable to me. I think that if you're considered old enough to go to university then you are basically an adult and should be able to support yourself financially.

For the record, I took 2 years out after college and saved up £10k for uni, I even paid my parents £300pm rent. This was back in 1999 and I didn't have to pay fee's as my parents didn't earn enough - means tested back then. I also had two jobs whilst studying and my parents only contributed the Tesco's money off vouchers they had managed to save up. I still left with 3 years worth of student loans and an overdraft to pay off but that was my choice and I didn't expect my parents to pay for it.

TL&DR - Entitlement culture nowadays, blah blah blah

Hats off to you, i fully agree.

danielanthony · 12 Dec 2012 at 15:33

Beerbaron said:
if the student was going to uni in Scotland and the parent lived in England what would happen then?

Probably some US style extradition request

Antar Bolaeisk · 12 Dec 2012 at 15:41

There was a thing on the radio recently about how you remain a child for longer these days, to around about the age of 25 (hurrah!). They then went through the five signs you're an adult, I ticked all five

CrispyOtter · 12 Dec 2012 at 15:43

Mat said:
When I was a kid we had to walk to school, up hill... both ways

Walk? Luxury! When I was a kid I had to crawl... through broken glass... Kids these days have it easy.

Mr Joshua · 12 Dec 2012 at 15:44

Mat said:
When I was a kid we had to walk to school, up hill... both ways

Genuine lol!

nydryl · 12 Dec 2012 at 15:53

danielanthony said:
http://www.divorcelawscotland.com/news/students-to-sue-parents-for-university-fees.html

What most parents (whether separated, divorced or still together) are probably not aware of however, is that if their child embarks upon higher education, then as the child’s parents, they have a legal obligation to continue to support that child financially from age 18 until the child turns 25.

Scotland only, but this seems a bit unreasonable to me. I think that if you're considered old enough to go to university then you are basically an adult and should be able to support yourself financially.

For the record, I took 2 years out after college and saved up £10k for uni, I even paid my parents £300pm rent. This was back in 1999 and I didn't have to pay fee's as my parents didn't earn enough - means tested back then. I also had two jobs whilst studying and my parents only contributed the Tesco's money off vouchers they had managed to save up. I still left with 3 years worth of student loans and an overdraft to pay off but that was my choice and I didn't expect my parents to pay for it.

TL&DR - Entitlement culture nowadays, blah blah blah

Crucially your parents were means tested so you didn't have to pay fees. The logical conclusion for being financially classified as an adult whilst at university is that everyone pays fees regardless of parental income. Could you have afforded to pay fees on top of everything else?

You might think you were completely financially independent; you were not. You benefited greatly by not having to pay fees due to your parents level of income.

Crowort · 12 Dec 2012 at 15:56

Surely this has little to do with if you are a 'child' or not and a lot to do with budgeting? I'm sure it was a long draw out decision but basically came out as 'if we say 25, we'll save xyz million over the next 10 years'.

phil675 · 12 Dec 2012 at 16:03

After being at uni for 2 years, its clear to me that a lot of 'adults' aged 18-21 still have the mentality of children.

Castiel · 12 Dec 2012 at 16:04

In any case I think you will find that Aliment in most cases only applies to Married Couples and their Children, as soon as they are divorced it ceases, in respect of parental obligations that is also up until the age of 16 in most circumstances and 18 if they remain in full time education....the OP point of it being the parental responsibility until 25 is in limited circumstances and is hard to enforce as all the Parent needs to do is make sure an offer of residence or a home to the Child is available (as long as they are over 16) which it is reasonable for the child to accept.

E: My wife informs me that she sorted out a similar issue for a friend where they bought a flat in the town their child attended university as an investment and offered it to the child rent free for the duration of their course. This was considered to be sufficient by the court and the court also made an order that the child should contribute a percentage to the upkeep of the flat themselves as they were also receiving support from their other parent and the value of the rent exceeded that of the contribution of that parent. So it can be a double edged sword.

In most other examples a Parents responsibility ends when a child reaches 16 except for their continued responsibility for guidance which ends at 18. Which is in keeping with UN definitions on Childhood.

physichull · 12 Dec 2012 at 16:10

At least I aren't any of these lot:

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-15-stone-babies

godinman · 12 Dec 2012 at 16:10

Buster2312 said:
Walk? Luxury! When I was a kid I had to crawl... through broken glass... Kids these days have it easy.

School? What's that then? They had me working down the coal mines lugging coal from the day I could crawl! Then when I eventually got home it'd be so cold we'd have to huddle around a polo mint for warmth!

Castiel · 12 Dec 2012 at 16:12

godinman said:
School? What's that then? They had me working down the coal mines lugging coal from the day I could crawl! Then when I eventually got home it'd be so cold we'd have to huddle around a polo mint for warmth!

Ha! You think you had it bad, at least you had a polo mint..all we had was the hole! And that was broke!!!

Cleeecooo · 12 Dec 2012 at 16:20

Mat said:
When I was a kid we had to walk to school, up hill... both ways

I love you.

I was trying to prove to my friends that that was a common(ish) saying.

Hades · 12 Dec 2012 at 16:21

Mat said:
When I was a kid we had to walk to school, up hill... both ways

PMSL at both ways

Cosimo · 12 Dec 2012 at 16:21

phil675 said:
After being at uni for 2 years, its clear to me that a lot of 'adults' aged 18-21 still have the mentality of children.

Some only start being adults when they hit thirty.

TehBluebear · 12 Dec 2012 at 16:23

Nope.

Although I still get that glint in my eye whenever someone mentions 'Lego'.