How Long Must Child Support Be Paid?

Supporting your children financially and emotionally is a lifelong endeavor. The family court may determine the amount of support to be paid after a divorce, separation, or when the child is not living with both parents. Child support is a recurring financial obligation to support the costs of raising a child. However, child support obligations only last until the child reaches a certain age.

This page gives a broad overview of child support obligations and when they end. There are also links to more detailed articles that can help you answer specific questions. Family law is set by each individual state. Consult a local child support lawyer for the best legal advice about your situation.

When Are Children Considered Adults?

In most cases, child support generally continues until the child reaches the age of majority. Depending on state law, the legal age when child support ends will vary. In many states, the paying parent no longer has to pay support when the child reaches age 18. In other states, child support obligations continue until age 21.

The time limit can change when the child is still in high school or college full-time and still living with their custodial parent. Many states extend the age for child support until the child graduates high school or a vocational program. Below is a state-by-state survey of the age when child support ends.

Typical End Points for Child Support

Reaching a certain age is the most common endpoint. However, there are other circumstances when you will no longer have to continue support. Endpoints for child support include:

• High school graduation
• Emancipation
• Joining the military
• Getting married

If the child’s other parent gets remarried, it does not change the paying parent’s support obligations. A stepparent is not financially responsible for their stepchild. However, if the stepparent legally adopts their stepchild, they become the legal parent and responsible for the child.

Court-Ordered College Tuition and Higher Education

Some states allow for the courts to require parents to pay for college support. The courts may order support for a child’s college education for a set number of years or until they graduate. In some situations, the noncustodial parent must pay college support in addition to the amount of child support.

Even if state law doesn’t require educational support, parents may include college tuition provisions in their separation agreement. Any educational provisions listed in the parental agreement should generally define obligations. Provisions should detail who pays for expenses, such as tuition, room and board, textbooks, and living expenses.

Special Needs and Child Support Orders

When the child has special needs, courts might order child support payments to continue beyond the age of majority. The court can also extend support when an adult child is mentally or physically disabled.

Emancipation Ends Child Support Obligations

Emancipation is legal independence for a minor child. Minor children may request legal emancipation before they reach their state’s age of majority. A child can petition the court for emancipation if they permanently leave the home, get married, or join the military. For emancipation, a minor child must show a judge that they can live away from the family home and support themselves.

Emancipation in and of itself means that a minor has proven that they no longer need their parent’s financial support. If a child has become emancipated, this terminates their parent’s legal support obligations.

Process for Terminating Child Support

Don’t just stop making payments on your child support on your child’s 18th birthday. Child support is part of a court order. You may need a formal request to terminate court-ordered child support.

The paying parent first needs to make a formal request to terminate child support payments. When getting a court order to terminate support, the parent must cite the reason as the child reached the age of majority. Parents must also petition for termination if a child has become emancipated.

Child Support Modifications

Parents may have trouble making child support payments because of financial hardship. Lower income does not excuse child support obligations. However, you can modify your child support orders based on a significant change in circumstances. A change in circumstances could include:

• Losing your job
• Incarceration
• Permanent disability

Child support modifications are common when a parent’s financial circumstances substantially change. However, modifications do not terminate the paying parent’s financial obligations. Child support services can still withhold money from unemployment or Social Security benefits.

Support modifications are not retroactive. Any changes don’t take place until the modification goes into effect. Parents facing financial difficulty are still responsible for any child support arrears.

Legal Assistance To Modify Child Support Orders

When making changes to child support orders, the court considers the best interests of the child. In some cases, the court appoints a Guardian Ad Litem to represent the child. Even if the parents agree to limit child support, the court will not agree if it is not in the child’s best interests.

Either parent can petition the court for modified support orders. This could include a change in the parent’s income, a change in the child custody plan, or a change in the financial needs of the child. An experienced family law attorney can explain your legal options and represent you in court. Talk to an experienced child support law attorney about your continuing support obligations.