When Should Child Support End?

Many parents have a lot of questions about child support. They wonder who will pay, as well as how much. However, one of the questions that remains unanswered at the beginning of a divorce is when the child support will actually end and be considered satisfied by the court. This can differ from case to case. Here’s what you should know about the circumstances needed for the termination of child support payments.

When the Child Turns 18

Generally speaking, a child is no longer a dependent when they celebrate their 18th birthday. This means that they no longer rely financially — or should rely financially — on their parents. However, there are a few situations where child support would end before or after this time.

Early Termination

The court can make a decision to end child support before the child’s 18th birthday under the following circumstances:

• The child voluntarily emancipates him or herself on or after their 16th birthday
• The child marries

If you pay and your child meets one of the above conditions, you should petition the court for early termination of payments. The court will usually not discover this information and terminate your responsibility on their own. Additionally, you must not stop making payments without a modification to your original court orders. Doing so could mean you face legal penalty.

Late Termination

Just like there are a few circumstances where child support would end before the child turns 18, there are a few situations where child support won’t end until after this time. For example, a child is still considered dependent after their 18th birthday if:

• He or she is permanently disabled and requires full-time care
• The child is severely ill at the time of their birthday, requiring full-time care for a temporary period of time extending past their 18th birthday
• The child is seeking continuing education full-time. In this case, they will be considered a dependent if they reside with the primary custodian while in school. They will continue to receive child support until they receive one diploma or post-secondary degree.

Contact a Naples Divorce Lawyer Today to Learn More

If you’re either the recipient of child support or the payor, it’s important that you have an attorney on your side who you can discuss important legal matters with and ensure that you receive child support for as long as the court will allow or that you are required to pay only under circumstances that the court supports. Attorney Kevyn Noonan Hayes, P.A. for a consultation at 239-591-6248.