Termination of Child Support

Full Video Transcript

A parent can petition the family court to terminate child support obligations when the child is no longer eligible for such support. The parent must file what’s usually called an “affidavit for termination of child support” or something similar. It is a standardized court form which usually allows the parent to simply check the box for the reason why the support is no longer needed, such as the child reached the age of majority, got married, became emancipated, or in some cases simply became self-supporting, rendering payment of support to the other parent unnecessary. In some states, when a child reaches the age of 18, the support may be eligible to be terminated. However, in other states, a child may still be entitled to support after reaching age 18 if he or she is still in school, either high school or some college or vocational program. After a parent files the affidavit to terminate support, the parent receiving the support payments can either agree to the termination or object to it. If the termination request is disputed, then there will likely be a hearing, and the court will review evidence on both sides about the parent’s finances, the child’s status, and related information. You can obtain the form to request the termination of child support from your local family courthouse.