Facts
The dispute opposes A., born in 1978, to her father, B. A.'s parents divorced in 1989 and she was placed under her mother's parental authority. The father was ordered to pay child support for A. until she reaches the age of 20 or starts working. After reaching adulthood, A. pursued her studies and asked her father to continue paying her child support. The father refused, arguing that the relationship between them was strained and he could not pay her money without having contact with her.
A. seized the court, which ordered the father to pay child support. The father appealed, and the court of appeal annulled the decision, considering that the relationship between the two parties was too strained for the father to be obliged to pay child support. A. then seized the Federal Court.
Considerations
The Federal Court examined the question of whether the obligation of parents to maintain their adult child should be considered as an exception or a rule. It considered that, since the reduction of the age of majority to 18, the obligation to maintain can no longer be considered as an exception, but it cannot be considered as a rule either.
The Federal Court also examined the question of the relationship between the parties and considered that, in this case, the relationship between A. and her father was too strained for the…