When Does Child Support End?

Whether you’re paying it or receiving it, child support can have a significant impact on your finances. If you’ve been ordered to pay child support, you’re likely wondering how long you’ll need to keep making these payments. And if your child’s other parent has been ordered to pay, you’re probably curious how long you can expect to keep receiving the assistance.

Child support laws vary from state to state, so it’s important to consult with an attorney in the state overseeing your case. In Florida, the general rule is that child support ends when the child turns 18. However, there are various exceptions to this rule. For example, if the child is going to be turning 18 before he or she graduates from high school, the court may extend child support until the child graduates or turns 19, whichever comes first (unless the child isn’t on track to graduate before age 19, in which case payments would end when the child turns 18). Or, if the child has special needs and can’t support him- or herself, the court could order the payments to continue indefinitely. Florida courts generally don’t require child support payments to continue while the child is in college.

It should be noted that child support payments don’t always automatically stop when they’re supposed to. If your child support order doesn’t contain an end date, or if your payments go to the state or are automatically withdrawn from your paycheck, you may need to take some extra steps to stop the payments, possibly including obtaining a court order terminating the obligation. An attorney will be able to assist you with all of this.

Experienced Family Law Attorneys Representing Clients in Tampa Bay

If you need help with a child support case, you can turn to the attorneys at the Law Offices of Audrey A. Jefferis, P.A. We have offices in New Port Richey and Palm Harbor, and we’d be happy to meet at whichever location is more convenient for you. Contact us today to set up a consultation—we’re open on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.