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STJ Confirms: Adult Child Who Does Not Study and Does Not Prove Need May Lose Child Support. Court Decision Reinforces Limits of Parental Obligation.
Child support is one of the most well-known institutions of Family Law in Brazil. Provided for in Articles 1,694 to 1,710 of the Civil Code, it ensures that parents support their children as long as there is proven need. However, one often overlooked point is that legal adulthood (18 years) does not automatically end the obligation to pay support. What happens, in practice, is a transition: support payments cease to be due due to parental authority and become due based on family solidarity, as long as the child proves they still need it — for example, because they are studying at a university or are unable to support themselves.
When the child is an adult, does not study, and does not present evidence of need, courts have decided that support payments should be terminated by court decision.
What the Law and Jurisprudence Say
The STJ, through Summary 358, establishes that:
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“The cancellation of child support for a child who has reached adulthood is subject to a court decision, with the opportunity for a defense, even within the same proceedings.”
In other words, the mere fact that a child has turned 18 does not automatically terminate support, but allows the father or mother to file for termination of support. From that moment on, it is the responsibility of the adult child to prove they still need financial support.
If they do not study, do not look for a job, or do not prove need, courts have upheld the termination.
Decisions That Consolidate This Understanding
Several state courts and the STJ itself have reinforced the thesis that an adult, healthy child, without education or proven need, cannot continue receiving support.
- In 2024, the TJMT canceled support for a 21-year-old child who did not study and did not demonstrate need. The court ruled that “the obligation to provide support cannot perpetuate indefinitely without cause.”
- The TJSP confirmed the termination of support for a 23-year-old daughter who was not attending college and did not prove financial difficulties.
- The STJ, in recent rulings, reiterated that support after adulthood is an exception, not the rule, making it the child’s responsibility to demonstrate need.
These decisions make it clear that the obligation to provide support has objective limits.
What Changes in Practice for Parents and Children
- Parents: may request in court the termination of support after the age of majority, especially when the child does not study and does not prove need;
- Children: must prove enrollment in a higher or technical course, essential expenses, or difficulty entering the job market;
- Judges: analyze on a case-by-case basis, but the trend is to end the obligation when the child shows a lack of effort to become independent.
Thus, child support cannot become a lifetime benefit, except in exceptional cases such as illness or incapacity.
And if the Child is Still in University?
Courts also have a consolidated understanding that enrollment in higher education maintains the obligation to pay support until the completion of studies.
- Typically, support is maintained until 24 years, which is considered a reasonable time to complete a degree.
- If the course is abandoned or if the child does not show progress, courts may terminate the obligation before this limit.
Therefore, the continuation of support depends on the child’s commitment to their education and autonomy.
Support is Not Lifetime
Brazilian jurisprudence is firm: an adult child who does not study and does not prove need has no right to continue receiving child support.
For parents, this means that support is not a perpetual obligation. For children, it is a warning: adulthood demands responsibility and proof of real need to maintain the benefit.
More than just financial relief for parents, these decisions reinforce the principle of proportionality and balanced solidarity in Family Law.
Na minha época eu comecei a trabalhar com 11 anos e nunca tinha ouvido falar de pensão alimentícia. A gente trabalhava com gosto pra ajudar em casa. Hoje tem uma geração de **** e mimizeiros querendo viver as custas dos pais,sem se importar com o futuro. E o pior é que um bando de juízes e advogados acobertando essa geração de delinquentes.
Eu concordo,quando minha filha engravidou aos 17 anos a primeira coisa que o pai fez foi vir me pedir pra abrir mão da pensão que ele dava ao nossos dois filhos que não dava nem pra metade dês despesas deles ,eu prontamente disse sem problema a filha e só minha não presisa dar , mas trabalhei duro e nada faltou a eles , logo que meu neto nasceu ela começou a trabalhar e TB não deixei parar de estudar foi a escola até um dia antes do bebê nascer ,e não me arrependo criei uma mulher guerreira que não tem medo de enfrentar nenhum desafio , os filhos TB tem que ter responsabilidade e 18 anos tá mais que na hora que o pai possa sim dar uma ajuda mais que não seja uma obrigação.
Tirar o direto dela e o dever do pai não é criar uma mulher forte e independente! Por mais que os filhos fique com a mãe, não fazemos filhos sozinha, então é dos dois! Está ensinando dia filha que vai o pai da filha dela não queria pagar pensão ela pode ser matar pra se virar sozinha, pq o filho é exclusivamente dela! O dever é de ambos, estamos criando homens folgados e sem responsabilidade nenhuma!
Pois é tenho um neto que não entendi porque preciso pagar pensão altíssima e deixou a faculdade na Flórida por não querer estudar e ainda preciso pagar pensão .
Isso só no Brasil que acontece
Se vc leu bem a matéria, é só vc provar que ele não precisa de pensão e abandonou os estudos, que vai parar de pagar. Entre na justiça e prove que ele está sem fazer nada pq ele quer e que ele não é pessoa com nenhuma deficiência.
Na hora de fazer o olhinho girar não pensa em nada.