"Family Contract—Adult Child Living with Parents Form" Establishes Rules and Expectations for Young Adults Living at Home

Stop Fights Before They Start by Setting Rules for Adult Children Living at Home

The Growing Number of Adult Children Living with Parents

With the unstable economy, lack of jobs, and high cost of housing, it's increasingly common to find adult children living at home with their parents. Skyrocketing college tuition costs mean there are more and more college students living at home, and college grads are moving back in with their parents in growing numbers, too. Adult children living at home hope to save money on rent, bills, and food to pay off their student loans, eliminate their credit card debt, or save enough for a down payment on a house.

The emergence of this "boomerang generation" has its pros and cons. Some parents welcome their kids back home with open arms, excited about the opportunity to spend more time together as a family. Other parents, however, were looking forward to becoming empty nesters, knowing that having their kids out of the house would free up their time for travel and hobbies. And on top of parents' excitement or disappointment with their adult children living at home, problems often develop when these adult children revert back to acting like teenagers—leaving messes around the house, refusing to help with chores, and staying out until dawn.

Luckily, signing a family contract that sets clear boundaries and rules for adult children living at home solves these problems. The "Family Contract—Adult Child Living with Parents Form" is an easy to complete, straightforward agreement that allows you to determine and enforce your particular rules and expectations for young adults living at home. 

Rules for People Living Together

Sharing a home often leads to disagreements. Whether husband and wife, roommates, or parents and children, everyone living together argues at some point over who should take out the trash or wash the dishes. Setting rules for people living together is essential to avoiding these kinds of disputes, and it's especially important to establish rules and expectations for young adults living at home.

It can be difficult to strike a balance for adult children living with parents. On the one hand, these young adults may think they don't need to help with chores or contribute to household costs because they're living with their mom and dad; but on the other hand, as adults, they need to learn to handle real-life responsibilities. Parents with adult children living at home need to use a family contract to clarify their boundaries and rules for adult children living at home.

"While a legal agreement between family members may seem odd, a simple statement of what is expected of each party can help avoid tension and bitter fights. A form is included that can help families define their relationship and expectations. The "Family Contract—Adult Child Living with Parents Form" can easily be rewritten to cover an elderly parent living with adult children."
—The Complete Book of Personal Legal Forms

Set Rules for Adult Children Living at Home with the "Family Contract—Adult Child Living with Parents Form"

The "Family Contract—Adult Child Living with Parents Form" helps you set these rules and expectations for young adults living at home by teaching you the questions to ask before living together. A simple, easy-to-read form written in plain English, this family contract covers every topic that could lead to disagreements between you and your adult children living at home. With this form, you can reach an enforceable agreement on all the important questions to ask before living together, including:

• When will my child move out?
• Will my child work or attend school?
• How much will my child contribute toward family expenses?
• How can I make sure my child keeps the house clean?
• What chores will my child be responsible for?
• What will the guest policy be?
• Will my child be allowed to have pets?
• Can I prevent my child from smoking, drinking alcohol, or using drugs in my home?
• Where should my child park his or her car and keep his or her possessions?

Every parent with adult children living at home needs this form, and all adult children living with parents should be required to sign it.

To ease your stress and establish clear, enforceable rules and expectations for young adults living at home, buy the "Family Contract—Adult Child Living with Parents Form" right now for just $7.95.

To make sure you're prepared for any legal problem that could arise, buy The Complete Book of Personal Legal Forms for $24.95.

To save money and receive immediate delivery, buy the ebook for only $22.95.

How Can I Set Rules and Expectations for Young Adults Living at Home?

Hold a family meeting to talk about your boundaries and rules for adult children living at home. Just as you may feel hesitant and anxious about your adult children living at home with you again, your kids are probably wondering what to expect from you. Make your rules and expectations for young adults living at home clear to them. Explain exactly how much you expect them to pay in rent, if they should cook their own meals, what time they should return home each night, and if they should work part-time or full-time.

Essential Family Meeting Tool

Present the "Family Contract—Adult Child Living with Parents Form" at your family meeting to put your rules and expectations for young adults living at home in writing and to make your regulations official. This form is a perfect family meeting tool, since it's simple to complete and it lists all the questions to ask before living together with your adult children.

Questions to Ask Before Living Together

What are adult children living at home hoping to accomplish? Learn what your kids' goals are. Members of the boomerang generation often have positive, concrete goals in mind when they move back in with their parents. By agreeing to let your adult children live with you for a period of time, you could help them save the money they need to achieve their dreams of:

• Attending college or graduate school
• Paying off student loans or credit card debt
• Buying a house or condo
• Switching careers or finding a new job
• Getting back on their feet after a divorce or breakup

Sometimes, though, adult children living with parents are just looking for an excuse to avoid living in the real world. If any of the following conditions apply to your situation, you need your child to sign the "Family Contract—Adult Child Living with Parents Form" immediately:

• My child won't work or keep a steady job
• My child drinks excessively or uses drugs
• My child is messy
• My child refuses to help with household chores
• My child can afford a place of his or her own but resists moving out
• My child invites too many guests over
• My child stays out too late
• My child refuses to contribute to household expenses

The "Family Contract—Adult Child Living with Parents Form" corrects these situations, preventing arguments between you and your kids.

Adult Children Living at Home Who Won't Work

In many families, adult children living with parents are not required to pay rent, help with the bills, or contribute in other ways to family expenses. With no financial responsibilities, some adult children living at home refuse to find a job, or they bounce from one job to the next, never earning a steady paycheck. Adult children living at home who won't work are just looking for a free ride—at the expense of their parents. Avoid this frustrating situation by completing the "Family Contract—Adult Child Living with Parents Form," which allows you to establish rules and expectations for young adults living at home. With this family contract, you can require your adult child to work part-time or full-time, and you can decide on a specific amount of money that your child must pay you.

Adult Children Living at Home Causing Marital Problems

Many parents look forward to the day their kids move out so they can spend more time with each other. Husbands and wives have time to reconnect when their children are away. Couples often plan years in advance, dreaming of trips to take or new activities to pursue together. However, adult children living with parents can disrupt these plans and spark arguments between parents. If you're dealing with adult children living at home causing marital problems, you need the "Family Contract—Adult Child Living with Parents Form" to end disagreements between you, your spouse, and your kids. Using this form to establish boundaries and rules for adult children living at home means you can spend less time arguing and more time enjoying life with your spouse.

Elderly Living at Home

The "Family Contract—Adult Child Living with Parents Form" is also an essential tool for adults living with an elderly parent. Inviting an elderly relative to live at home is a popular alternative to impersonal, expensive nursing homes or assisted-living facilities. However, this stressful situation often creates a whole new set of difficulties. The clauses in the "Family Contract—Adult Child Living with Parents Form" can also apply to elderly living at home, so use this form to set rules and expectations before your parent or in-law moves in with you.

Essential Tool to Create Rules and Expectations for Young Adults Living at Home

If your child is part of the boomerang generation, you need the "Family Contract—Adult Child Living with Parents Form." Complete this family contract together with your adult children living at home to save you the aggravation of fighting with your kids.

 

To ease your stress and establish clear, enforceable rules and expectations for young adults living at home, buy the "Family Contract—Adult Child Living with Parents Form" right now for just $7.95.

To make sure you're prepared for any legal problem that could arise, buy The Complete Book of Personal Legal Forms for $24.95.

To save money and receive immediate delivery, buy the ebook for only $22.95.

©2008 Sourcebooks

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