Skip to content

Codice Civile, art. 337-septies — Disposizioni in favore dei figli maggiorenni

Jurisdiction: Italy · Citation: Codice Civile, art. 337-septies · Authoritative source: brocardi.it — art. 337-septies

Italian law's recognition that parental responsibility — and its corresponding economic obligations — does not necessarily end at the child's 18th birthday. Particularly relevant in PA cases that span the child's transition to adulthood: the alienated parent retains a statutory pathway to maintain financial connection (and therefore the practical relationship-anchor) even after the child is legally adult.

Verbatim text (current consolidated)

Art. 337-septies. (Disposizioni in favore dei figli maggiorenni)

Il giudice, valutate le circostanze, può disporre in favore dei figli maggiorenni non indipendenti economicamente il pagamento di un assegno periodico. Tale assegno, salvo diversa determinazione del giudice, è versato direttamente all'avente diritto.

Ai figli maggiorenni portatori di handicap grave si applicano integralmente le disposizioni previste in favore dei figli minori.

English working translation

Art. 337-septies. (Provisions in favour of adult children)

The judge, having evaluated the circumstances, may order in favour of adult children not economically independent the payment of a periodic allowance. Such allowance, unless otherwise determined by the judge, is paid directly to the entitled party.

To adult children with severe disabilities the provisions established in favour of minor children apply in their entirety.

Why this matters for PA

  • Economic-connection continuity. Where alienation has succeeded in cutting the targeted parent off from direct contact, art. 337-septies preserves the statutory channel through which the targeted parent maintains an economic-and-therefore-relational link to the adult child — even if the alienating parent has poisoned the relationship.
  • "Versato direttamente all'avente diritto" — paid directly to the entitled party — when the adult child receives the periodic allowance directly (rather than via the resident parent), it removes the alienating parent's ability to weaponise the support payment as evidence of "the other parent doesn't really care."
  • Severe-disability extension — for adult children with severe disabilities (handicap grave per Legge 104/1992), the full minor-child regime continues to apply, including art. 337-ter (provvedimenti riguardo ai figli) and art. 337-octies (poteri del giudice, ascolto del minore). This means parental-alienation analyses in disability cases extend into adulthood.
  • Cassazione Sez. I 2024 has emphasised that 337-septies is not automatic: the adult child must demonstrate genuine effort toward economic independence (university, training, job-seeking) and that economic non-independence is not the result of choice. In PA cases this becomes complex when the alienating parent has sabotaged the child's adult-life preparation.

Sources & authoritative references

Topic baseline (independently verifiable):