Jamaican parents may be required to support children up to age 23 under amended law

The Jamaican Senate has approved significant amendments to the Maintenance Act, allowing maintenance orders for children to be extended beyond the age of 18 for education or training purposes.

The revised law, passed on Friday, November 29, permits courts to issue or extend maintenance orders up to a child’s 23rd birthday, regardless of whether an order was previously in place. The amendments also enable applications for maintenance orders to be filed by children over 18, their parents, or individuals responsible for their care and custody.

Piloting the Bill, Minister of Education, Skills, Youth, and Information, Senator Dr. the Hon. Dana Morris Dixon, highlighted the Government’s commitment to addressing the evolving needs of families. “This Bill reflects the evolving needs of Jamaican families, and we obviously are very much committed to education and training,” she said. “We understand that these are vital pathways for securing brighter futures for youth, and financial support during this critical period is indispensable.”