@Joseph
The age of 18 as demarcation of adulthood in America is a modern invention in response to the Viet Nam War.
In the 1960s and early 70s war protesters and drafted soldiers argued: “Old enough to fight, old enough to vote!”
The Federal Voting age was lowered to 18, and in many states such as Connecticut the chant included “old enough to fight, old enough to drink” and the drinking age was also lowered to 18 (as it was in NY).
BUT, lowering voting age did not actually lower the age of majority in all things. In some states that remains 21.
The 18 year old, who can vote and sign contracts in CT, cannot legally buy alcohol or get a gun license.
The Family courts still consider support and education and medical support through age 21. Child support may end at 18, BUT not the 18th birthday, the order will extend until the end of the school year in most cases.
Because, the FAFSA system considers parental income for live at home children in awarding college Financial aid, our courts may obligate divorced parents to contribute to educational costs.
I recently won $100,000 judgment against a divorced spouse who had not paid his half of the 2 daughters college costs as ordered in the divorce back in 2007. He claimed he had no assets, but the judge agreed that we could attach his pension 100% and he could live on his Social Security or get a job. There was no reason his daughters should be saddled with huge student loans because he did not live up to his obligations.