Charlotte Divorce Lawyer Blog
When Does Child Support End?
Child support is money paid by one parent to the other for the needs of their child. In most cases, a child resides primarily with one parent and has visitation with the other. The non-custodial parent is generally required to pay support to cover the basic needs of the child. These needs include such things as food, clothing, housing, and other essential living expenses. Child support is generally separate from medical insurance and treatment costs, and extra costs such as those associated with sports, activities, and camps.
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Does Child Support End at Age 18?
In North Carolina and elsewhere, a minor is considered an adult once they turn 18. When the child is no longer a minor, it is likely that child support payments will end. Typically, child support payments are required until a child reaches age 18 or until the child graduates from high school. It is important to read your child support order to find out the specifics of your case. Your child support order states exactly when payments should end. Generally, payments are required until a child graduates high school or reaches the age of 18.
If a child is older than 18 but has still not graduated from high school, child support will continue. Support is required in this case until the child stops regularly attending school, fails to progress academically, or reaches the age of 20, whichever occurs first. In some cases, a parent may be required to pay child support while a child attends a cooperative, innovative high school through the CICH program. Support would be required until the child graduates or turns 18, whichever is later.
Can Child Support End Before Age 18
In some cases, child support will end prior to the child turning 18. If the child joins the United States military, a parent is no longer required to pay child support. When a child gets married before the age of 18, child support ends. If a child becomes an emancipated minor, a parent is no longer responsible for supporting them. Emancipation is a legal process that allows a minor to be free from the control of parents or guardians prior to the age of 18.
Exceptions to the End of Child Support
In addition to the exceptions above, there may be other reasons why child support will not end when a child reaches the age of 18. A disabled child may require ongoing care, and child support may be required into adulthood. In some cases, parents may make an agreement to pay child support while a child is in college. An agreement such as this is legally binding and enforceable. If a parent is in arrears in child support, the payments continue until paid in full, even if the child is now over the age of 18. It is also notable that modifications to child support must be made through the court system.
If you have questions or concerns about child support, need a modification, or want to create a contract for support, we can help. Call us today at Arnold & Smith, PLLC at (704) 370-2828 for a consultation.
The family law practice group at Arnold & Smith, PLLC includes four Board-Certified Family Law specialists and one Child Welfare Law specialist, as well as several attorneys with many years of family law experience that are committed to providing a powerful voice to individuals facing the often-tumultuous issues in this area of law. The range of issues our family law clients may be facing include pre- and post-nuptial agreements; separation agreements; post-separation support; child support (both temporary and permanent); absolute divorce; divorce from bed and board; military divorce; equitable distribution of assets; child custody (both temporary and permanent); retirement benefits and divorce; alimony and spousal support; adoption; and emancipation. Because this area of the law is usually emotionally charged and complicated, the family law attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC act with the utmost dedication to ensure that each client understands his or her options, and then act to achieve the best result possible for that client’s particular situation.
Source:
https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/emancipated_minor
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https://www.freeimages.com/photo/home-1230034
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