What are the parent’s responsibilities for an 18-year-old?

Q: Our child will be 18 soon. She is still a senior in high school and wants to move out the day she turns 18. She works and says she can pay for rent, phone, etc. She than told us her guidance counselor said we had to sign for college loans and pay for medical bills until she’s 26. If She moves out isn’t she responsible? We cannot afford to pay for college. Why are we being taunted by school and her. She does not listen to house rules and her friends are not safe near our smaller children, she’s been in trouble with law breaking entry, drinking and her boyfriend is on probation and not allowed near small kids and keeps trying to bring him here for sex. Please help. It’s for the safety of my smaller children. We don’t have the money to pay for college or her medical. (Pittsburgh, PA)

A: Once she turns 18 she is an adult in PA and you have no financial responsibility for her. Under current PA law, you are not obligated to pay for college, or other post-secondary education. If you really want to cut her loose, you can, not that I am recommending it. The current law allows you to keep her on your health insurance until she is age 26 but does not require you to. If you want, once she is 18, you can put her stuff on the porch and change the locks.

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