11 August 2017

Is child support payable for a child over the age of majority who is attending college or university?


As we approach September, the question is arising more and more frequently in my practice about when a child is still considered to be a dependent ‘child’ and in need of financial support if they are attending college or university and not living  at home. As a mother of three ‘children’, ages 19, 22 and 24, all of whom are pursuing post-secondary studies, I can tell you first hand that there is no clear point at which children are no longer in need of financial aid from their parents.  The case of Kiristmanson v. Kristmanson 2012 BSC 1750 is helpful in this regard. 

From the Court’s perspective, payment of child support for a child over the age of majority depends on the facts of each particular case. 

In six Canadian provinces, the age of majority is 18: Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, and Saskatchewan.  And, the age of majority is 19 in the four remaining provinces and the three territories: British Columbia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, and Yukon.

The Divorce Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. 3 (2nd Supp.) provides the following definition for the term "child of the marriage" where a person is over the age of majority:

“child of the marriage” means a child of two spouses or former spouses who, at the material time,

 . . . is the age of majority or over and under their charge but unable, by reason of illness, disability or other cause, to withdraw from their charge or to obtain the necessaries of life;

Case law has interpreted "other cause" to include an adult child in attendance at post-secondary schooling.

The seminal case of Farden v. Farden (1993), 2570 BCSC tells us that the onus rests upon the applicant to establish that the person for whom a support order is sought is still a child within the meaning of the Act Master Joyce, as he then was, provided the following helpful analysis for determining the status of an adult child:

Whether or not attendance in a post-secondary institution will be sufficient cause for a finding that the child is still a "child of the marriage" requires examination of all of the circumstances.  It is not a conclusion which follows automatically from proof of attendance at the institution . . . In my view the relevant circumstances include:

(1)  whether the child is in fact enrolled in a course of studies and whether it is a full-time or part-time course of studies;

(2)  whether or not the child has applied for or is eligible        for student loans or other financial assistance;

(3)  the career plans of the child, i.e. whether the child has some reasonable and appropriate plan or is simply going to college because there is nothing better to do;

(4)  the ability of the child to contribute to his own support through part-time employment;

(5)  the age of the child;

(6)  the child's past academic performance, whether the child is demonstrating success in the chosen course of studies;

(7)  what plans the parents made for the education of their children, particularly where those plans were made during cohabitation;

(8)  at least in the case of a mature child who has reached the age of majority, whether or not the child has unilaterally terminated a relationship from the parent from whom support is sought.

In Neufeld v. Neufeld, 2005 BCCA 7 (CanLII), the Court of Appeal expressly adopted the above passage from Farden as being a non-exhaustive list of considerations which apply in cases where the Court is being asked whether support is payable for an adult child.  In Neufeld, the issue was whether support was payable for an adult child pursuing a medical degree.  One of the important factors considered by the trial judge was that the decision to pursue this level of education was in keeping with the family’s pre-separation plans for their daughter. 

The cases tell us that there is no arbitrary cut-off point for child support for adult children, based either on age or level of education.  We know that there is no statutory prohibition against support for an adult child seeking a second degree; determination depends on the facts of each specific case, and Neufeld reminds us there is not a specific or primary piece of the Farden inquiry which will determine the result in any given case. 
So, the answer to the question, "Is child support payable for a child over the age of majority who is attending college or university?", is, as with most family law matters, it depends on the facts of your case.   

08 August 2017

The Presumption of Advancement as an “anachronistic legal principle”


The Presumption of Advancement as an “anachronistic legal principle”

In the recent decision of H.C.F. v. D.T.F. 2017 BCSC 1226, Mr. Justice Voith, in his lengthy (70pg) decision, provides an excellent overview of recent case law on the issue of division of property including excluding property.  He also provides commentary on the intersection between the law and consistency with social change.   The Honorable Judge examines the legislative intent behind the FLA, including the reasons for the expanded definition of spouse, which was specifically intended to include same sex couples.  His Lordship’s thoughtful and logical analysis paints his clear views on the presumption of advancement as an outdated concept, which, should not be allowed to continue, as he says, “in the context of legislation that was intended to recognize and reflect the broader and changed nature of relationships in present day society.”    He says at paragraph 149, “The ongoing application of the presumption of advancement under the FLA would mean that of these various potential forms of relationships, within which all partners are “spouses” for the purposes of the FLA, the only subset of relationship to which the presumption of advancement would apply would be a gift from a man to a woman in a traditional marriage. “  This being a result he calls “incoherent”. 

Get a coffee, sit down and read it.   It’s long but it's an essential and important case.