When Child Support Ends in Each State (2026)
The age child support normally ends in each state and DC, and when it can continue longer.
| State | When child support ends |
|---|---|
| Alabama | The age of majority in Alabama is 19, and court-ordered child support generally stays in effect until the child reaches the age of majority, even if a third-party benefit such as Social Security for the child stops at 18. When all children in an order have turned 19, no current support is due and all arrears are paid, the paying parent can file an affidavit with the court clerk to end income withholding; that affidavit cannot be used when the parent claims a child was emancipated by marriage or joining the military. Ala. Code § 26-1-1; Ala. R. Jud. Admin. 32 (commentary); Ala. Admin. Code r. 660-3-16-.08 |
| Alaska | The age of majority in Alaska is 18. A court can also order support for an unmarried 18-year-old child who is actively pursuing a high school diploma (or an equivalent level of technical or vocational training) and living as a dependent with a parent, guardian or the parent's designee. Alaska Stat. §§ 25.20.010, 25.24.140(a)(3), 25.24.170(a) |
| Arizona | Child support normally ends when the child reaches the age of majority (18). If the child turns 18 while attending high school or a certified high school equivalency program, support continues while the child is actually attending, but only until the child turns 19. A court may order support to continue past majority for a child with severe mental or physical disabilities who cannot live independently and be self-supporting, if the disability began before the child reached the age of majority. Ariz. Rev. Stat. §§ 25-320(E)–(F), 25-809 |
| Arkansas | Unless the court order specifically extends it, the duty to pay child support ends automatically when the child turns 18, unless the child is still in high school. If the child is still in high school, support ends at high school graduation or at the end of the school year after the child turns 19, whichever comes first. Support also ends when a court emancipates the child, or when the child marries or dies, when the child's parents marry each other, or when an adoption becomes final. A court may also order support to continue for an individual with a disability that affects the person's ability to live independently from the custodial parent. Unpaid support that is already owed must still be paid. Ark. Code Ann. §§ 9-14-237, 9-12-312(a) |
| California | Parents must support a child until 18. Support continues for an unmarried 18-year-old who is a full-time high school student and is not self-supporting, until the child finishes 12th grade or turns 19, whichever comes first; a child whose documented medical condition prevents full-time attendance is excused from the full-time requirement. Separately, each parent has an equal duty to support an adult child of any age who is incapacitated from earning a living and without sufficient means; the court may order that payment go into a special needs trust. Parents may also agree to provide more support. Cal. Fam. Code §§ 3901, 3910 |
| Colorado | Unless a court finds a child emancipated earlier, child support ends automatically, without a motion, when the last or only child turns 19. Exceptions: the parents may agree otherwise in a written stipulation; the court or child support unit may order support to continue past 19 for a mentally or physically disabled child; and if the child is still in high school or an equivalent program, support continues until the end of the month after graduation (a child who drops out and later re-enrolls can receive support until the end of the month after graduation, but not past 21). A child who marries or enters active military duty is considered emancipated. Parents may also agree in writing to pay postsecondary education expenses. Colo. Rev. Stat. § 14-10-115(13) |
| Connecticut | Parents must support a minor child (under 18). For decrees entered on or after July 1, 1994, support continues for an unmarried 18-year-old who is a full-time high school student and needs support, until the child finishes 12th grade or turns 19, whichever comes first. The court may also order support for a child with an intellectual, mental or physical disability who lives with and is principally dependent on a parent: until age 21 for decrees or initial orders entered from October 1, 1997 to before October 1, 2023, and until age 26 for those entered on or after October 1, 2023. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 46b-84(a)–(c) |
| Delaware | Both parents must support a child under 18. Support continues past 18 if the child is a high school student who is likely to graduate; that duty ends when the child receives a high school diploma or turns 19, whichever happens first. Del. Code Ann. tit. 13, § 501(a), (c), (d) |
| District of Columbia | In the District of Columbia, child support usually lasts until the child turns 21. A support case can be started any time from after the fourth month of pregnancy until the child turns 21. D.C. Superior Court, Parentage and Child Support Branch |
| Florida | The age of majority in Florida is 18, and support normally ends then. A court may require support beyond 18 for a dependent person whose mental or physical incapacity began before age 18, or for a dependent child between 18 and 19 who is still in high school, performing in good faith, with a reasonable expectation of graduating before 19. Fla. Stat. § 743.07 |
| Georgia | The duty to support a minor child continues until the child reaches the age of majority (18), dies, marries or becomes emancipated, whichever comes first. In orders entered on or after July 1, 1992, the court may require either or both parents to keep supporting a child who has not married or become emancipated, is enrolled in and attending secondary school, and turned 18 before finishing high school, but not after the child turns 20. O.C.G.A. § 19-6-15(e) |
| Hawaii | Support is ordered for minor children, and the court may also order support for an adult child or an incompetent adult child, before or after the child reaches the age of majority (18). Under the 2024 Hawaii Child Support Guidelines, support past majority is meant to help an unmarried adult child get educated or trained: it may be ordered for an adult child enrolled full time (or accepted and planning to attend full time) in an accredited school, college, university, or vocational or trade school, and it generally ends before or at age 23, decided case by case. Before the child's 19th birthday, the agency sends notice that support will be suspended unless proof of full-time enrollment is provided. Support for an incompetent or disabled adult child can also be ordered. Haw. Rev. Stat. § 580-47(a); 2024 Hawai'i Child Support Guidelines, Part A (Adult Children) |
| Idaho | A court may order child support until the child turns 18. If the child is still in high school after turning 18, the court may, in its discretion, continue support until the child stops attending high school or turns 19, whichever comes first. Idaho Code § 32-706(1)–(2) |
| Illinois | Every support order must state a termination date, which can be no earlier than the child's 18th birthday. If the child will not graduate from high school until after turning 18, the termination date can be no earlier than the high school graduation date or the child's 19th birthday, whichever comes first. The termination date does not erase unpaid arrears, and an order can be ended earlier if the child is otherwise emancipated. Separately, a court may order support for a child of the parties who has reached majority and is mentally or physically disabled and not otherwise emancipated; the request can be made before or after the child turns 18. Courts can also order contributions to college or other post-high-school education expenses under a separate section. 750 ILCS 5/505(g), 5/513, 5/513.5 |
| Indiana | The general duty of child support (not counting educational support) ends when the child turns 19, unless: the child is emancipated earlier (for example, by active military duty or marriage, or not being under a parent's or approved caretaker's care or control); the child is incapacitated, in which case support continues during the incapacity or until the court orders otherwise; the child is at least 18, has not attended school for four months, is not enrolled and can support himself or herself, in which case the court can end (or reduce) support; or the child is a full-time high school student and a parent files a notice (between the child's 17th and 19th birthdays, with proof of enrollment and the expected graduation date), in which case support continues until high school graduation. An order for educational needs may continue until further court order. Ind. Code § 31-16-6-6 |
| Iowa | Child support covers minor children and must include support for a child between 18 and 19 who is engaged full time in completing high school graduation or equivalency requirements in a way reasonably expected to finish before age 19. It may also include support for a child of any age who is dependent on the parents because of a physical or mental disability. Separately, a court may order a postsecondary education subsidy for a child between 18 and 22 who is a full-time student in good faith at a college, university or community college, regularly attends career and technical training, or has been accepted for admission and is waiting for the next term to start. Iowa Code § 598.1(8)–(9) |
| Kansas | Child support ends when the child turns 18 unless: the parents agree in a court-approved written agreement to pay longer; the child turns 18 before finishing high school and is still attending, in which case support continues automatically (unless the court orders otherwise) until June 30 of that school year; or the child is still a bona fide high school student after that June 30, in which case the court, on motion, may continue support through the school year in which the child turns 19, if the parents jointly took part in or knowingly accepted the decision that delayed the child's graduation. Kan. Stat. Ann. § 23-3001(b) |
| Kentucky | Unless the parents agree otherwise in writing or the decree says otherwise, child support ends when the child is emancipated. If the child is still a high school student at 18, support continues while the child is in high school, but not beyond the end of the school year in which the child turns 19. The death of the paying parent does not automatically end support, and past-due support that built up while the child was a minor is still owed after emancipation. KRS 403.213(3) |
| Louisiana | Child support for a child ends automatically, without any action by the paying parent, when the child reaches the age of majority or is emancipated. When one combined award covers two or more children, it ends when the youngest reaches majority. Support continues automatically for an unmarried child who is a full-time student in good standing in high school (or its equivalent), is under 19, and depends on either parent. On a motion filed before the child reaches majority, the court must continue support for a child with a developmental disability until age 22 while the child is a full-time secondary school student, and for a disabled child under the separate rules of R.S. 9:315.22.1. Parents can also agree to continued support. La. R.S. 9:315.22 |
| Maine | Child support generally ends when the child turns 18. If the child turns 18 while still attending secondary school, the order stays in force until the child graduates, withdraws or is expelled from secondary school, or turns 19, whichever comes first. 19-A M.R.S. § 1653 |
| Maryland | The age of majority in Maryland is 18. A person who is 18 and still enrolled in secondary school has the right to support from both parents until the first of these happens: the person dies, marries, is emancipated, graduates from or is no longer enrolled in secondary school, or turns 19. Md. Code, General Provisions § 1-401; Family Law § 5-203 |
| Massachusetts | Child support orders cover minor children (under 18). The court may also order support, maintenance and education for a child aged 18 to 20 who lives in a parent's home and is principally dependent on that parent, and for a child aged 21 to 22 who lives in a parent's home and is principally dependent on that parent because the child is enrolled in an educational program (not including costs beyond an undergraduate degree). M.G.L. c. 208, § 28 |
| Michigan | Child support generally ends at 18. A court may order support after 18 while the child is regularly attending high school full-time with a reasonable expectation of earning enough credits to graduate, and is living full-time with the parent receiving support (or at an institution), but never after the child reaches 19 years and 6 months. A request for this extended support can be filed any time before the child reaches 19 years and 6 months, and the order must end on the last day of a specified month. Support beyond these limits is enforceable only if the parents agreed to it. MCL 552.605b |
| Minnesota | For child support purposes, a "child" is a person under 18, a person under 20 who is still attending secondary school, or a person who cannot support themselves because of a physical or mental condition. Support can therefore continue past 18 while the child is still in high school (up to age 20), and for an adult child who is incapable of self-support. Minn. Stat. § 518A.26, subd. 5 |
| Mississippi | The duty to support a child ends when the child is emancipated. Unless the support judgment says otherwise, emancipation happens when the child turns 21, marries, joins the military full-time, or is convicted of a felony and sentenced to two or more years. The court may also find a child emancipated earlier if the child is 18 or older and stops full-time school enrollment (unless the child is disabled), or moves out, sets up independent living, gets a full-time job and stops school before 21, or lives with another person without the paying parent's approval. Emancipation does not erase past-due support. Miss. Code Ann. § 93-11-65(8)-(9) |
| Missouri | Unless the child's circumstances clearly require otherwise and the court says so, child support ends when the child dies, marries, enters active military duty, becomes self-supporting (with the custodial parent's consent), turns 18, or turns 21. If the child is still enrolled in and progressing through high school at 18, support continues until the child finishes or turns 21, whichever comes first. If the child enrolls in vocational school or college by October 1 after high school graduation and completes at least 12 credit hours each semester with grades good enough to re-enroll, support can continue until the child finishes or turns 21; the child must give each parent transcripts and enrollment documents each semester. The court may extend support past 18 for a child who is physically or mentally unable to support themselves, is insolvent and unmarried. RSMo § 452.340.3-5 |
| Montana | Child support ends when the child is emancipated or graduates from high school (if enrolled), whichever is later, but no later than the child's 19th birthday, unless a written agreement or the decree expressly extends or waives the end date. Support for a child with a disability who is financially dependent on the custodial parent (who is the primary caregiver) does not end just because of age; it continues until the court finds the person is no longer disabled or no longer financially dependent, for orders issued or still in effect on or after July 1, 2019. Mont. Code Ann. § 40-4-208(5)-(6) |
| Nebraska | In Nebraska, people under 19 are minors. A parent's duty to pay child support ends when the child turns 19, marries, dies, or is emancipated by a court, unless the support order specifically extends support beyond that. The paying parent can file a written application to terminate support with the clerk of the district court, with a certified copy of the birth certificate, marriage license, death certificate or emancipation order. Unpaid support does not go away when the child turns 19. Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 42-371.01, 43-2101 |
| Nevada | Nevada's child support security statutes define a "minor child" as a person under 18, or under 19 if enrolled in high school, or under a legal disability, and not declared emancipated. A parent must also support an adult child with a handicap that began before the age of majority until the child is no longer handicapped or becomes self-supporting. A parent who is behind on support when a child is emancipated must keep paying as ordered until the arrears are paid. NRS 125B.200(2); NRS 125B.110; NRS 125B.100 |
| New Hampshire | Child support continues until the child marries, joins the armed services, is emancipated by court order, or turns 18. If the child is still a full-time student in elementary or secondary school, a charter school, or a qualifying home education program at 18, support continues until the child graduates or until 2 months after the child turns 19, whichever comes first. A support order cannot require a parent to pay an adult child's college expenses, except as allowed by RSA 461-A:21. RSA 461-A:14, IV-V |
| New Jersey | The obligation to pay child support ends automatically when the child marries, dies, enters military service, or turns 19. The parent receiving support can ask for support to continue past 19 if the child is still in high school, attends full-time post-secondary education (college, vocational or graduate school), or has a disability, by filing a Request for Continuation of Support within 45 days of the child's 19th birthday with a proposed end date, which must be before the child's 23rd birthday (except for disability). Support for other reasons must be sought from the Family Court as financial maintenance. New Jersey Child Support Program, FAQs (Termination); N.J.S.A. 2A:17-56.67 |
| New Mexico | According to the New Mexico Judiciary's self-help guide, child support generally ends when the child turns 18, as long as the child is not still in high school. Exceptions can apply for a child with a disability or when the parents sign a written agreement extending support beyond the age required by law. New Mexico Courts Self-Representation, Child Support & Custody |
| New York | Parents must support a child until age 21. Child support under New York's guidelines is for an unemancipated child under 21. N.Y. Family Court Act § 413(1)(a), (b)(2) |
| North Carolina | Child support ends when the child turns 18, or earlier if the child is otherwise emancipated. If the child is still in primary or secondary school at 18, support continues until the child graduates, stops attending school regularly, fails to make satisfactory academic progress toward graduation, or turns 20, whichever comes first, unless the court orders it to stop at 18 or before graduation. For a child in a cooperative innovative high school program, support ends after the fourth year of enrollment or at 18, whichever is later. If arrears or fees are owed when support ends, payments continue in the same total amount until they are paid off. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 50-13.4(c) |
| North Dakota | Child support ordered until a child reaches majority (18) continues until the end of the month the child graduates from high school or turns 19, whichever comes first, if the child is 18, still enrolled in and attending high school, and living with the parent who receives support. The parent receiving support can file a free declaration with the child support agency to keep support going. A court can also order support after 18 if the parents agree or the court finds it appropriate. N.D.C.C. § 14-09-08.2 |
| Ohio | A court child support order continues past the child's 18th birthday only if (1) the child is mentally or physically disabled and cannot support himself or herself, (2) the parents agreed to continue support past 18 in a separation agreement made part of the divorce or dissolution decree, or (3) the child continuously attends a recognized and accredited high school full-time on and after turning 18. An administrative support order continues past 18 only for continuous full-time high school attendance. The termination rules also list, as a reason to end an order, that a termination condition in the court order has been met for a child who reaches 19. Ohio Rev. Code §§ 3119.86, 3119.88 |
| Oklahoma | A child is entitled to support from the parents until age 18. If the child is regularly enrolled in and attending high school (or another high school education program or an alternative high school program) as a full-time student, support continues until the child graduates or turns 20, whichever comes first; no hearing or new order is needed to extend support past 18. Separately, a court may order support for an indefinite period for a child who needs substantial care and supervision because of a mental or physical disability that existed (or whose cause was known to exist) before age 18 and who will not be able to support himself or herself. Okla. Stat. tit. 43, §§ 112(E), 112.1A |
| Oregon | In Oregon a person reaches majority at 18. A support order may also require either or both parents to support a "child attending school": an unmarried child who is 18 or older and under 21, is making satisfactory academic progress, and carries at least half of a full-time course load. School includes high school, community college, a four-year college or university, vocational or technical training (including Job Corps), and high school equivalency programs such as GED or home schooling. A child attending school is a party to the support case and may apply for child support services. ORS 107.108; ORS 109.621 |
| Pennsylvania | Parents are liable to support their unemancipated children who are 18 or younger, and the law says parents may also be liable to support children 18 or older. Under the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure, the county domestic relations section sends an emancipation inquiry before a child's support ends; if no other children are covered and the parent receiving support does not respond within 30 days or does not give grounds for continuing support, the order is ended administratively on the later of the date the last child turns 18 or graduates from high school. 23 Pa.C.S. § 4321; Pa.R.C.P. 1910.19(e) |
| Rhode Island | Child support generally runs until a child turns 18. If the child is still attending high school at 18, the Family Court may order support and education costs to continue until 90 days after graduation, but never past the child's 19th birthday. The court may also order support beyond these limits for a child with a severe physical or mental impairment who still lives with or is cared for by a parent, if the disability began before the child would otherwise have been emancipated. R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-5-16.2(b) |
| South Carolina | Child support runs until the child turns 18, marries, or becomes self-supporting (as determined by the court), whichever comes first. It continues past 18 if the child is enrolled in and still attending high school, but not beyond high school graduation or the end of the school year after the child turns 19, whichever is later. Support can also continue past 18 under a prior agreement or order, or, in the court's discretion, for as long as a child's physical or mental disability or other exceptional circumstances continue. S.C. Code § 63-3-530(A)(17) |
| South Dakota | Parents have a legal duty to support a child until the child turns 18, or until 19 if the child is a full-time student in a secondary (high) school. SDCL § 25-5-18.1 |
| Tennessee | Child support generally ends at 18. If the child is enrolled in an accredited high school after turning 18, parents remain responsible for support until the child graduates from high school or the child's class graduates, whichever comes first, but never after the child turns 19. A court may continue support for a disabled child up to age 21, and the age limit does not apply to a severely disabled child living under a parent's care and supervision when the court finds it is in the child's best interest and the paying parent can afford it. Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 34-1-102(b), 36-5-101(k) |
| Texas | A court may order child support until the child turns 18 or graduates from high school, whichever is later. Support may continue past 18 while the child is enrolled in a program leading to a high school diploma (or certain joint high school and junior college courses) and meets attendance requirements, through the end of the month the child graduates. Unless otherwise agreed or ordered, support ends earlier if the child marries, has disabilities of minority removed, dies, or begins active military service. For a child whose mental or physical disability existed (or whose cause was known) by age 18 and who needs substantial care and personal supervision and cannot support themselves, the court may order support for an indefinite period. Tex. Fam. Code §§ 154.001, 154.002, 154.006, 154.302 |
| Utah | Child support generally continues until the child turns 18 or graduates from high school during the child's normal and expected year of graduation, whichever is later. Support also ends if the child dies, marries, joins the U.S. armed forces, or is legally emancipated. A son or daughter of any age who is incapacitated from earning a living and cannot support themselves is still a "child" for support purposes, and the courts' self-help page says a court may order support to continue after 18 for a disabled child who remains a dependent. When one child ages out, the base award is generally adjusted automatically for the remaining children unless the order says otherwise. Utah Code §§ 81-6-101(7), 81-6-213 |
| Vermont | The court may order child support to continue until the child reaches the age of majority or finishes secondary education (high school), whichever is later. The Office of Child Support says its services are for parents and guardians of children under 18 or still in high school. 15 V.S.A. § 658(c) |
| Virginia | Child support generally ends at 18. The court must order support to continue for a child over 18 who is a full-time high school student, not self-supporting and living in the home of the parent seeking support, until the child turns 19 or graduates from high school, whichever comes first. The court may also order support for a child over 18 who is severely and permanently mentally or physically disabled, if the disability existed before age 18, the child cannot live independently and support themselves, and the child lives in the parent's home. Va. Code § 20-124.2(C) |
| Washington | Unless the parents agreed otherwise in writing or the decree says otherwise, child support ends when the child is emancipated. An order may be modified to extend support past age 18 for a child who is still in high school. Separately, a court may order support for postsecondary education for a child who is still dependent on the parents and who attends an accredited school, pursues a course of study and stays in good academic standing; this support cannot be ordered past the child's 23rd birthday except in exceptional circumstances, such as a mental, physical or emotional disability. RCW 26.09.170(3), (8)(b); RCW 26.19.090 |
| West Virginia | Child support normally ends when the child turns 18. A support order must continue payments past 18 while the child is unmarried, lives with a parent, guardian or custodian, and is enrolled full time in a secondary school or vocational program, but not past the child's 20th birthday. The statute leaves in place existing case law on support past 18 for a child with a disability. W. Va. Code § 48-11-103 |
| Wisconsin | The court must order support for a child under 18, and for a child under 19 who is pursuing an accredited course of instruction leading to a high school diploma or its equivalent. Wis. Stat. § 767.511(4) |
| Wyoming | An ongoing child support obligation ends when the child reaches the age of majority (18), is legally emancipated or dies, or when the parents marry or remarry each other. A parent's duty of support continues past 18 for a child who is between 18 and 20 and attending high school or an equivalent program full time, and for a child who is mentally or physically disabled and therefore unable to support themselves. Wyo. Stat. §§ 20-2-313, 14-2-204(a), 14-1-101(a) |
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.