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Committee hears technical bill clarifying when child support may extend past 18
Summary
Rep. Ross Levin said HB 357 replaces the term 'poor person' with 'person unable to financially support themselves' and clarifies existing case-law-based practice that child support may continue past age 18 when an adult child cannot support themselves; committee recorded votes and will circulate signatures.
Representative Ross Levin presented House Bill 357 as a technical clean‑up to remove antiquated language in Titles 10 and 13 of the Delaware Code. The bill would replace the term "poor person" with phrasing that reflects contemporary legal standards—"person unable to financially support themselves"—and explicitly clarifies that child‑support obligations may extend beyond age 18 where an adult child cannot support themselves (for reasons such as disability).
Levin said the change reflects existing Family Court case law and does not create a new obligation on families but clarifies the law for the public. He said stakeholders consulted included Family Court, DHSS, and the State Council for Persons with Disabilities.
No public commenters registered; a motion to release the bill was made and the clerk recorded affirmative votes. The chair said staff would circulate the bill for missing signatures so it could be reported if enough members sign.
Next step: staff to collect signatures; if sufficient signatures are obtained, the committee may report the bill to the full House.
