Rochelle Yvonne Lillard v. Robert Walter Lillard

This case involved a divorced couple disputing child support for their adult daughter who has disabilities. The mother, Rochelle Lillard, asked the court to declare their daughter severely disabled and require the father, Robert Lillard, to continue paying child support beyond age 21 (when support normally ends). The father opposed both requests. The trial court ruled in favor of the mother, finding that the daughter did have a severe disability and ordering the father to keep paying child support past age 21. The father appealed this decision, arguing the court was wrong about both the disability determination and the extended support order. The appeals court upheld the original ruling. They agreed the evidence showed the daughter was severely disabled and confirmed that the father must continue paying child support beyond the typical age limit. This case matters for working parents because it shows courts will extend child support obligations when an adult child cannot support themselves due to severe disabilities. Parents should understand that having a disabled adult child may mean ongoing financial responsibilities that don't end at age 21. It also demonstrates that courts carefully evaluate medical evidence when determining disability status for support purposes.