definition of dependant child

My stbx and I have 3 children - aged 20 -just finished uni and hoping to move to plymouth with his girlfriend, aged 19 -just finished first year at hull uni, and 17 -just finished first year of A levels. I want the house to be sold and split 50-50 but she wants to keep the house and have me move out. the house is in joint names and I am the main breadwinner. My wife and I are still both living in the house but sparately. I understand in considering who gets how much of the house -(house value 160k, mortgage 83k) the court would consider the welfare of dependant children. how do they define a dependant child?

If your 17 year old is studying A levels he is a dependant child - once he''s out of full time education he''s not. If the parent is in receipt of child benefit that''s another way of looking at it. University is higher education and by law the child is not classed as being dependant on the parent. Or that is what I was told in court - albeit I have a child just finished uni who is unable to get employment - therefore living with me as no means of supporting himself - his father contributes nothing for his welfare etc. and didn''t whilst he was at uni - but me being the mother had to and still does provide a home for him. Just because the law says he''s an adult and should fend for himself - mothers don''t!