College and Adult Child Support in Rhode Island: Post-Secondary and Disabled Children

By the FigureMyTax Editorial Team · How we calculate

We found no Rhode Island provision for court-ordered college support in the sections we read. The court may order support beyond emancipation for a child with a severe impairment that began before emancipation.

Does child support cover college in Rhode Island?

We found no provision for court-ordered college support in the sections we read. The statute speaks of support and education costs for children in high school at 18 and for 90 days after graduation, never beyond 19 (R.I. Gen. Laws 15-5-16.2(b)). Any college help usually rests on a written agreement made part of the decree, which you can ask the court to approve.

Is there child support for a disabled adult child in Rhode Island?

Yes, in the court’s discretion. For a child with a severe physical or mental impairment still living with or under the care of a parent, the court may order support beyond emancipation, weighing: the nature and extent of the disability; extraordinary medical expenses; the child’s ability to earn; the child’s resources; the parents’ resources; and the primary caregiver’s inability to work full time because of the care needed (15-5-16.2(b)).

When must the disability have begun?

The onset must have occurred before the emancipation event (15-5-16.2(b)). Bring medical records that date it.

Can the court restart support for a disabled child?

Yes. If a support order for a child with a severe impairment has been terminated, suspended or expired, the court considers the same factors and may order support prospectively under the guidelines, and it may periodically review whether to continue it (15-5-16.2(b)).

Does health insurance matter for an adult child?

Every Rhode Island child support order must require health insurance for the child when coverage is available through a parent’s employment at no cost or a reasonable cost, and the court can instead order a weekly cash contribution toward the medical premium (15-5-16.2(d)(2), (d)(4)). Ask how your order treats coverage at emancipation.

What can I do if the order ended and my child has a severe impairment?

Ask the court to consider the disability factors and order support prospectively under the guidelines; the court can review the case periodically to decide whether to continue it (15-5-16.2(b)). Bring medical records that date the onset before emancipation.

Where can I find the disability factors?

They are listed in the same subsection as the high school rule: the nature and extent of the disability, extraordinary medical expenses, the child’s ability to earn, the child’s and parents’ resources and the caregiver’s inability to work full time (15-5-16.2(b)).

Does a disabled child need a court hearing every year?

No fixed schedule is stated; the court may periodically review whether circumstances warrant continuing support (15-5-16.2(b)). Keep medical and benefit records current for each review.

Who pays for college in practice?

The sections we read give no court-ordered college support, so college costs depend on the parents’ written agreement and the child’s own aid. If your decree has such a clause, enforce it as a judgment for debt (15-5-16.3).

What are the age limits for a given birth date?

What about unpaid support from before?

It stays owed: see whether Rhode Island arrears expire or can be forgiven and the Rhode Island child support end date calculator.

Frequently asked questions

Official sources

• R.I. Gen. Laws 15-5-16.2: child support, high school and impairment
• R.I. Gen. Laws 15-16-11: withholding order duration
• R.I. Gen. Laws 15-5-16.5: interest
• R.I. Gen. Laws 15-5-16.3: judgment for debt

This is general information, not legal advice. It is based on the cited Rhode Island statutes, rules and court opinions, and every case turns on its own facts. Confirm how the law applies to your situation with a licensed Rhode Island attorney.