Assistance with student finance and parental contribution

Questioner

My stepdaughter recently turned 18. Due to a (large) difference in income between her natural father and me, her study grant is being cut. Her father does not want to pay the (voluntary) parental contribution. My income does not allow this either, so my stepdaughter is forced to take out an interest-bearing loan. Although his income is so high, he has never felt the need to support his children financially, neither through alimony nor in any other way. Can my stepdaughter force her father in any way to pay the parental contribution? Or can she, if necessary, let me adopt her so that her student finance is calculated on my salary?

Lawyer

I would indeed advise your daughter to persuade her father to start paying child support directly to her. Since she is an adult, she can also directly hire a lawyer to have the support determined by the court. Given her income, this will not cost much (own contribution lawyer = 100 euros) because she will be able to use a subsidy via the Legal Aid Board.