Child Support Can Continue Beyond 18

Q. I got married at 15 and got pregnant right away. I was only married three months. When I divorced, I was not sure if I was pregnant so there was no amount set for child support.

My parents didn’t want me to receive child support because they didn’t want to be bothered with my ex-husband coming around for child visits.

My son is now 27. My ex-husband had no money when my son was growing up, but now he is very well off.

Can I get my ex-husband to pay the child support he should have paid when our son was growing up? It’s a shame I never asked for support because of my parents’ attitude and resentment.

A.B.,

Anaheim

A. The law provides that parents must support their child. This duty normally ends when the child is 18. There are ways this period can be extended.

If the court order for child support is dated before March 4, 1972, the duty to support continues until the child is 21. The law also provides that support can continue until a child is 19 years old if he or she is a full-time high school student and is living with a parent. Parents also may agree to extend support beyond age 18.

According to Deputy Dist. Atty. James Bacin, child-support payments may be collected even if the child is an adult if there are arrearages owing under a court order. It is therefore important to determine what the specific terms of your dissolution papers are. You should contact an attorney to review your file and to give you advice on how to proceed.

There are situations when an adult child can receive child support. An example would be when the adult child is “in need” and unable to support himself or herself because of a physical or mental condition. You may wish to discuss with your attorney whether such a provision may be applicable to your case.

Q. I am writing you this letter from my cell in Orange County Jail.

My problem is I was shot in the head. The doctors at UCI Medical Center operated and removed a small bullet from my head. My head has been giving me trouble. I need medical help. What can I do?

R.V.,

Santa Ana

A. Generally, the jail requires that a certain form be completed to schedule an appointment with the jail’s medical staff. You can obtain the form from any deputy sheriff in the jail.

The nurses at the jail apparently make rounds in the various cells housing the inmates. You may speak to one of these nurses and request an appointment for examination as well.

Q. I work at the courthouse in Santa Ana, and I have often seen drivers doing something which I am not sure is legal.

If you have ever driven out of the driveway in front of the courthouse onto Civic Center Drive, you will know that you can turn left onto that street. In the middle of the street, there is a two-way left-turn lane. Close to the end of that lane, there is a left-turn pocket for Flower Street. There are no lines between the beginning of the pocket and the end of the two-way left-turn lane except for the center divider.

I have seen cars come out of the courthouse, go down the two-way left-turn lane, and continue into the left-turn pocket.

Is this legal?

A.S.,

Santa Ana

A. The law dealing with the two-way, left-turn lane states that the lane may be used as a means to merge with traffic, to turn left or to make a U turn, if permitted. It cannot be used as a way of getting into the left-turn pocket.

I have been informed by a Santa Ana police officer that the proper way to enter any left-turn pocket, including the one you mention, is to travel across the two-way, left-turn lane, merge with traffic, and then enter the turn pocket.

I should add that I have received a ticket for this exact violation. (It was, however, not at this location.)

B. Tam Nomoto, an Orange County Municipal Court judge, answers readers’ questions about the law. Ask the Judge runs every other Saturday in Orange County Life. Have a question for Judge Nomoto?