More adult children are living at home for longer — and for divorcing parents, adult children living at home divorce proceedings in ways that many clients do not expect. Some adult children never leave after university. Others move out, struggle with rent or mortgage costs, and return. The hotel of mum and dad is no longer a joke. For many families, it is a financial reality.
According to ONS figures, 7.2 million young adults aged 15–34 lived with parents in 2025, up from 6.6 million in 2015. A recent Times article put the number of adults aged 24–34 still living at home at approximately 1.7 million. The reasons are familiar: high rents, expensive mortgages, student debt, unstable employment, and young adults who may be entirely independent emotionally but unable to afford a home of their own.
For separating or divorcing parents, this raises a difficult question: does an adult child still count when the court considers housing needs, maintenance, and financial settlement?
The answer is: sometimes. And this is where early specialist advice can make a significant difference.
Does the family court consider adult children in divorce?
In financial remedy proceedings, the court gives first consideration to the welfare of any child of the family under 18. That is the clear statutory priority under the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973.
But modern family life is more complicated.
Many parents continue to support children well beyond 18. That may include:
- a child living at home while studying
- a university student returning during holidays
- a child taking a gap year
- a young adult unable to afford rent
- a child with health, disability or neurodiversity-related needs
- a child who is working but not yet financially independent
- a young adult who has returned home after a relationship breakdown or job loss
The court may not treat an adult child in the same way as a minor, but their presence in the household can still be relevant when assessing the financial reality of each separating parent. If one parent is housing a 19-year-old in full-time education, or a 24-year-old who is dependent due to disability, that may directly affect their housing budget, outgoings, and practical needs.
Can one parent be expected to house an adult child after divorce?
This is often one of the most difficult questions in practice.
One parent may say: Our son is 23, working full-time and living at home. Why should I have to provide a larger house for him?
The other may say: He cannot afford to move out. He has always lived here. It is unrealistic to pretend he can simply disappear from the household budget.
The court will look at the facts. Relevant factors may include:
- the adult child’s age
- whether they are in education or training
- whether they work and what their income is
- whether they pay rent or contribute to bills
- whether they have special needs or health issues
- the standard of living during the marriage
- whether both parents accepted ongoing support during the relationship
- whether the proposed housing solution is realistic or excessive
The court is unlikely to give unlimited weight to adult children simply because they prefer to remain at home. But where genuine financial dependency exists, or where there is a real practical need, it may be very relevant indeed.
What about university costs?
University is one of the most common flashpoints in divorce negotiations involving older children.
Parents frequently assume that child maintenance stops at 18. That is not always the full picture. Standard child maintenance through the Child Maintenance Service applies where a child is under 16, or under 20 if in approved education or training — but university costs, rent, tuition, travel, and living expenses often need to be addressed separately.
In divorce negotiations, parents can agree how university costs will be met. A well-drafted financial order may cover:
- term-time maintenance
- rent or halls of residence contributions
- tuition fees
- travel costs and course materials
- holiday living arrangements
- a defined end date — for example, completion of a first degree
- what happens if the child takes a gap year or changes course
Clear drafting avoids future disputes. Without it, disagreements commonly arise after the order is made — particularly when circumstances change.
Can an adult child make a financial claim against a parent?
In some circumstances, yes.
Schedule 1 of the Children Act 1989 allows for financial provision for children, including older children in specific situations. Claims involving adult children are more limited and highly fact-sensitive, but they may arise where the young person is in education or training, or where special circumstances justify continued support.
This does not mean every adult child can compel a parent to fund their lifestyle. The court will look carefully at dependency, reasonableness, resources, and need. However, where a parent has withdrawn support during university, or is refusing to contribute to essential costs, legal options may exist.
Adult children and the housing budget: a hidden divorce issue
When adult children remain in the family home, financial disclosure can become contested.
One parent may include the adult child in their housing and living costs. The other may argue those costs are inflated, or that the adult child should be financially independent. Common disputes include:
- whether a larger property is genuinely needed
- whether the adult child should be paying rent
- whether food, utilities, and transport costs are reasonable
- whether the parent is subsidising an adult child at the expense of the other party
- whether the adult child’s income should be disclosed
- whether support is temporary or indefinite
This can have a substantial impact on settlement proposals. A parent seeking to remain in the family home may rely on the adult child’s continued residence as part of their housing case. The other parent may argue for downsizing, sale, or a clean break. The evidence matters.
What evidence will help?
If adult children form part of the financial picture, parties should be prepared to provide clear documentation. Useful evidence may include:
- proof of university or college enrolment
- student finance details
- tenancy or accommodation costs
- wage slips or income details for the adult child
- evidence of disability or health needs
- household bills and bank statements showing the adult child’s contributions
- written agreements about university funding
- a realistic budget showing who pays for what
Vague assertions — he still needs support or she cannot afford to leave — will carry little weight. The better questions are: what support is needed, why is it needed, how long will it last, and who should fairly bear the cost?
Should adult children be included in the financial order?
Often, yes — but carefully.
A financial order may need to address child maintenance until A-levels or equivalent, university support, tuition fee contributions, rent during term time, holiday living arrangements, health or disability-related costs, and a clear end date for financial support. It should also specify whether payments are made to the parent or directly to the child, and what happens if the child takes a gap year or changes course.
The danger is leaving these matters informal. Parents may be amicable at separation, but circumstances change. New partners, remarriage, job loss, retirement, or resentment about unequal contributions can all generate future disputes. A clear order now prevents litigation later.
The adult child at home problem is not going away
Many young adults simply cannot afford to leave the family home as quickly as previous generations could. Housing costs, student debt, and job insecurity mean that parental support frequently extends well into adulthood.
For family law, this means divorce settlements must reflect real life — not an assumption that financial responsibility ends neatly at 18. The law can address this, but only if the issue is properly raised, evidenced, and drafted into the settlement.
Key questions before finalising a divorce settlement
Before agreeing any financial order, ask:
- Are any children over 18 still financially dependent?
- Are they in education or training?
- Are university costs agreed?
- Will they live at home during holidays?
- Do they have income, and do they contribute to the household?
- Is there a disability, health, or neurodiversity issue?
- How long is support expected to continue?
- Should payments be made directly to the child?
- Does the financial order clearly state when support ends?
If these questions are not addressed, the settlement may create problems later.
Specialist advice on divorce and adult children from Paradigm Family Law
At Paradigm Family Law, we advise clients on complex financial arrangements following separation and divorce, including cases involving adult children, university costs, housing needs, maintenance, and Schedule 1 Children Act 1989 claims.
If your adult child is still living at home, financially dependent, or is about to start university, it is important to take advice before agreeing a financial settlement.
A divorce agreement should not simply reflect the legal position today. It should be practical, realistic, and robust enough to work through the next stage of family life.
Contact Paradigm Family Law for specialist advice on divorce, financial settlements and provision for older children.
Call us on +44 (0) 203 637 4967 or visit paradigmfamilylaw.co.uk
