older children

Don''t know if anyone can answer this but my eldest has returned from uni as I''m sure lots of other people''s children have done or will do in the future. As I understand it the latest figures suggest that children are on average likely to be in their 30''s before they leave home.

Getting work is not that easy so no chance of him leaving any time soon. Legally I don''t think it counts that he needs a roof over his head but morally it does and anyway he''s my son so as far as I''m concerned he will always need a bed even if it''s so he can bring his own family to stay.

My question is does the current economic climate affect any judicial decision in relation to ''older'' children who are not normally classed as dependants?

One of my daughters has just finished university and is working and living at home. She is not working in her chosen field, but is working and is now paying me £50 per week towards her keep.

Would be great if her dad contributed, but I wont even go there because I really do not want the hassle.

As regards children living at their parents'' homes until their 30s, yes I can see this is true, but I am afraid I am going to be a bit "hard" - once my youngest leaves to go off to uni in two years time, I have decided to sell up and get something much smaller and my children I am afraid will have to stand on their own two feet.

I would like to know the answer to this also. My youngest daughter leaves for uni in Oct and my son has finished and secured a job at the other end of the country.

I would like to know why because of a divorce and being on my own my need is only for a one bedroomed home, this means I can never have either of my children to stay. Semms a bit harsh to me and completely unreasonable.

Tell me about, our 28 year old finally left home last September and 25 year old is just back for the summer from uni. In England & Wales although children under 18 are the priority children over 18 studying for a first degree with perhaps a gap year before or after uni aren''t irrelevant when it comes to settling the finances on divorce. Beyond that they are deemed independent.

Both of my sons still live in the FMH, in fact I have been luckly enough to move out and leave them to it!!

Their father stopped paying anything for them or to them when they turned 18 and I am still subsiding them now!!

At my FDR the judge remarked that these days children are ''still on the payroll'' for some time after age 18. I think you could argue that they will still need to be housed through university. Beyond that I don''t think you would get far, though of course the Government''s current ''thinking aloud'' about expecting all under-25s not in employment to live with their parents may possibly drive a coach and horses through current practice - if they don''t realise how completely impractical it is before they try to enact it.

best wishes,
Sadie

As I will have no choice but to sell my house when my youngest leaves home for university as I will not be getting tax credits for her, child maintenance or child benefit, there is no a chance that any of my children will be able to live with me for ever.

Thank God!