Should I pay my adult child's bills?

Asked by: Prof. Jesse Lueilwitz  |  Last update: April 25, 2025
Score: 4.7/5 (11 votes)

Swantner recommends creating a firm plan that gradually reduces the child's financial dependence. You might, for example, stop paying the cell phone bill this month, the grocery bill next month, and then let your child know that in six months, she's responsible for her own rent.

When should adult children pay their own bills?

Children say that 21 is an appropriate age, while parents favor age 19 for removing them from the family plan.

Am I financially responsible for my adult child?

Debt Ownership: Legally, parents are not responsible for their adult child's debt unless they co-signed a loan or are otherwise legally obligated. Bankruptcy: If an adult child files for bankruptcy, parents typically do not have to pay off that debt, unless they are co-debtors. Support vs.

When to stop helping an adult child financially?

In order to decide when to cut the financial cord, ask yourself these questions:
  1. Are your adult children capable of supporting themselves?
  2. Have your children reached milestones in which they no longer need the same help anymore? ...
  3. Have your adult children said that they want more independence?

How to stop paying adult children's bills?

Go for a Gradual Change From Financial Dependence to Financial Independence. Don't cut the financial cord in one day. Give your child some notice, such as a month or two for cell phone bills and maybe six months to move out, and let them know you're not going to be paying their bills anymore.

Should I Still Be Giving Money To My Adult Kids?

22 related questions found

What is the best way to leave money to your adult children?

In these circumstances, a trust can help set up specific management plans for your assets, provide tax benefits and give your beneficiaries time to adjust to having assets held for them. If you have a straightforward estate and mature adult children, leaving assets outright to them might be appropriate.

Are parents responsible for their adult children's debts?

No, parents are not generally responsible for an adult child's medical debts, said Richard Gundling, senior vice president at the Healthcare Financial Management Association, an organization for finance professionals in health care.

What percentage of parents help their adult children financially?

Nearly 50% of US parents financially supporting adult children, study finds. Nearly half of US parents provide some kind of financial support to their adult children, who are grappling with higher food and living costs than they did, a new study has found.

How long should parents be financially responsible for you?

In most states, parental obligations typically end when a child reaches the age of majority, 18 years old. But, check the laws of your state, as the age of majority can be different from one state to the next. Many parents support their children after the age of majority, such as while the child attends college.

How often do most adults see their parents?

About one-in-five young adults (22%) say they see their parent at least a few times a week. About a third (35%) say they see their parent in person a few times a month or once a month. Another 42% say they see their parent less than once a month, including 6% who say they never see their parent.

Are you financially responsible for your elderly parents?

Filial responsibility laws, also known as filial support laws, are legal statutes that require adult children to financially support their parents if they are unable to do so themselves. In California, these laws are outlined in Family Code Section 4400.

Do adult children have an obligation to their parents?

Yes, you read that correctly. An adult child can have a legal obligation under the Family Law Act to pay support to their parents.

How much should an adult child pay to live with parents?

Most of the parents of high school graduates living at home we surveyed told us that they are charging their kids rent to prepare them for the real world. Twenty seemed to be the average age when they started charging rent, and the average rent seemed to be about $100 a week.

At what age should you pay your own bills?

Well, there's no one-size-fits-all answer here, but generally, it's a good idea to ease them into it when they're around 16 to 18 years old.

What should adult children pay for when living at home?

You may decide to ask your child to pay a rent for room and board, even if it's a nominal amount. Alternatively, you might also ask them to cover any increases in utilities, such as water or electricity.

How do you deal with a financially irresponsible adult child?

If you're a parent who's enabling your adult child, here are ten ways to stop:
  1. 1 | Stop giving them money. ...
  2. 2 | Stop paying their bills. ...
  3. 3 | Stop giving them a place to live. ...
  4. 4 | Stop co-signing for them. ...
  5. 5 | Stop paying their rent or mortgage. ...
  6. 6 | Stop buying them things they want. ...
  7. 7 | Stop buying their clothes.

Which states have filial responsibility laws?

The states that have such laws on the books are Alaska, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, ...

How to stop enabling an adult child financially?

Swantner recommends creating a firm plan that gradually reduces the child's financial dependence. You might, for example, stop paying the cell phone bill this month, the grocery bill next month, and then let your child know that in six months, she's responsible for her own rent.

What are the obligations of parents to their children?

to protect your child from harm. to provide your child with food, clothing and a place to live. to financially support your child. to provide safety, supervision and control.

When to stop helping your adult child?

If helping your adult child is sacrificing your financial well-being, that's not good. I get it. You want to help your child, who may be struggling with student loans and/or high rent. But coddling them too long at the expense of your financial security eventually may shift a burden to them.

What percentage of adult children still live at home?

Pew found that about a third of young adults between the ages of 18 and 34 are still living with a parent. More than half (57%) of those in the 18-to-24 age group said they were doing so; as did 21% of those ages 25 to 29 and 11% of those between the ages of 30 and 34.

Are parents financially responsible for adult children?

The Family Code makes it clear both parents have an equal responsibility to support a child “of whatever age who is incapacitated from earning a living and without sufficient means.” The California Legislature has not limited the application of the state child support guidelines to minor children.

Should you pay your parents' bills?

Adult children typically don't have to pay their parents' bills, but there are exceptions. And even when a child doesn't have to pay directly, debt could reduce what they inherit. Debt doesn't simply disappear when someone dies, Whitty explains.

What debts are not forgiven upon death?

Medical debt and hospital bills don't simply go away after death. In most states, they take priority in the probate process, meaning they usually are paid first, by selling off assets if need be.

Will I inherit my parents' debt if they have no assets?

You are not responsible for your parents' debt. This is true regardless of whether you inherit assets under their estate. However, a parent's estate must settle any debts before you can inherit. And children often share financial responsibilities with aging parents, often medical and housing costs.