How old is a child when child support ends

Parents of adult children are finally free from their support obligations -- or are they? Divorcing parents can always voluntarily agree on who pays for what - even with respect to adult children. But to the dismay of unwitting parents, some state laws require parents to pay "child" support beyond childhood. Upon a parent's request, a court can extend support to pay educational expenses while the child attends college or other post-high school education via "post-secondary educational support" or "post minority support" collectively "post-minority support".

The laws about post-secondary support vary from state to state; some states don't require it, while others explicitly provide for it by statute.

Many states allow courts to consider post secondary support on a case-by-case basis. This article provides a basic breakdown by state of post minority support requirements.

Alabama Child support requirements end once a child turns 19, graduates from high school or becomes emancipated. ARJA Rule One or both parents must also continue support when a child is disabled. As of parents are no longer required to pay college costs as part of support, but parents can voluntarily agree to do so. Ex parte Christopher So. Alaska The age of majority in Alaska is Courts cannot require either parent to pay for post-majority college education. Courts may award support for adult children who are handicapped.

Streb v. Streb, P. Arizona Child support continues only until the child reaches majority There are exceptions for disabled children and children who reach majority while still in high school. Guzman v. Guzman, , P. Courts will enforce contracts to provide post-minority support in a separate contract action. Solomon v. Findley, Ariz.

Arkansas The age of majority is eighteen. Once a child reaches majority, the legal duty of the parents to provide support ceases unless the child is mentally or physically disabled at the time the child reaches majority, or is still attending high-school. If still attending high school, the support obligation ends upon the child's high school graduation or the end of the school year after the child reaches 19 years of age, whichever is earlier.

Towery v. Towery, S. Turney v. Turney, WL Ark. California The duty to pay child support continues until the child turns Support can continue while they are a full time high school student, not self-sufficient, until they reach the age of 19 or finish the 12th grade, whichever comes first. Colorado Child support terminates upon marriage, entry into the military when the child attains However, support can continue under the following circumstances: I the parties agree otherwise; II the child is mentally or physically disabled; III if the child is still in high school or an equivalent program support continues until the end of the month following graduation.

A child who stops attending high school prior to graduation and later reenrolls is entitled to support upon reenrollment until the end of the month following graduation, but not beyond age twenty-one. This support for post-secondary education may not extend beyond the earlier of the child's 21st birthday or the completion of an undergraduate degree.

See Marriage of Robb v. Robb, P. II, Connecticut Support terminates at However, if the child is in high school, unmarried, and still lives with one parent, support may continue until the child completes the 12th grade or turns 19, whichever comes first. The court can require support for a child to attend up to four academic years of higher education or occupational school-up to age A court can also order support for a child with mental or physical disability until the child reaches age Delaware Support continues until the child reaches the age of 18 if the child is a full time high school-student likely to graduate.

Support ends at 19 or graduation, whichever comes first. District of Columbia Only minor children are entitled to support. The courts cannot require support after the child reaches the age of majority. Norris v. Norris, A. For child support purposes, a person is considered a child until the age of Butler v. Butler, A. Graham v. Graham, A. Under exceptional circumstances, parental support may continue past the age of majority.

Nelson v. Nelson, A. Florida Support generally ends at In that case, support will continue until Nicolay v. Nicolay, So. Generally, parents don't have to pay for college for their children unless they are actually dependent. Attendance at college does not necessarily render a child dependent. While it is common for divorced parents to agree on the amount paid and even allow for modifications without court intervention, it is often the case where parents do not agree and require an attorney's assistance to negotiate the amount to be paid or represent their interests in Family Court.

Anthony LoPresti has been representing divorced parents in child support cases for the entirety of his more than three decades in Family Law. Call our office at for a free consultation. At this point, most of us know Whether you have a parenting plan in place throughout the year, or a custody agreement mandated by the family court, the arrival Child custody and child support are two of the most sensitive aspects of a divorce.

Unless there is a history of abuse or one Emancipation can happen if a child is under 21 and: Gets married Joins the military Finishes 4 years of college Is at least 18 years old and is working full time to support themselves.

Summer, vacation, or seasonal jobs do not count as self-supporting jobs. If a child leaves home and ends their relationship with the parents unless the reason has to do with being neglected, abused, or other similar issues While a court cannot order a parent to pay child support past 21 years of age, it is common for parents to agree to extend support until 22 if the child is still a full-time college student reaching graduation.

Continuation of Education If a child continues their education past High School, a parent can be ordered to pay for a portion of college expenses. On top of property division, alimony, and child custody decisions, child support must also be determined. For those going through the divorce process for the first time, it's natural to be confused about child support laws in New York. Parents often wonder how long child support will need to be paid for.

Our Westchester lawyers are here to explain. The law determines how much child support a parent has to pay as well as for how long. While it's common in most states to end child support when the child turns 18, New York operates differently. Specifically, child support continues until the child turns 21 years old. While there are some exceptions, this means that child support must be paid until the child reaches the age of The reason for this is due to the presumption that a child is typically not self-supporting yet due to them either living at home with the custodial parent or attending college full time.