When does child support end?

Checked against official sources: Oct 25, 2026

The law of the state that made the order decides when child support ends, even if a parent or the child moves. In most states it ends at 18, often later if the child is still in high school, and in a few states at 19 or 21; many states also continue support for a child with a disability, and some allow support for college.

More about this

Support doesn't always stop by itself, and past-due support is still owed after the child grows up.

General legal information, not legal advice. RobinClaim is not a law firm.

Build your plan

Choose your state and answer 3 quick questions. The plan below changes as you answer: steps that don't fit your answers are hidden, and your state's deadlines appear. Your answers stay in the page address.

Your plan

Do now

  1. Find your state's rule and read your order: some orders name an end date or an event, such as graduation.

    Why: How long support lasts follows the law of the state that issued the order (28 U.S.C. 1738B(h)(2)).

  2. If more than one child is covered, check what the order says happens to the amount when the oldest child's support ends.

    Why: Some orders set an amount for all the children together, and it may not drop by itself; you may need a review or a new order.

  3. If your child is still in high school, check your state's rule on support until graduation.

    Why: Many states continue support while the child is in high school, up to a set age.

  4. If your child has a disability, ask before support ends whether your state allows support to continue, and how to ask the court.

    Why: Many states allow support for an adult child with a disability that began before adulthood, often only if asked for before support ends.

  5. If your child is going to college, check whether your state allows a court to order support for college.

    Why: Only some states do; in others it depends on what the parents agreed to.

This week

  1. Contact the child support agency or the court before the end date and ask how to end the order and the income withholding.

    Why: An income withholding order stays in effect until the agency or court that issued it ends it, so the employer keeps withholding until it gets that notice.

  2. Keep paying what the order says until you get written confirmation that current support has ended.

    Why: Payments that come due under an order become a debt; stopping early can leave a balance.

  3. If you think support should continue, ask the agency or the court before the end date, and gather proof such as a school letter or medical records.

    Why: A request after support ends may be too late in some states.

If it's not resolved

  1. Past-due support is still owed after current support ends; the agency can keep collecting it, including from pay and tax refunds.

    Why: Each unpaid payment became a judgment on its due date (42 U.S.C. 666(a)(9)).

  2. Ask for a final payment history so both parents can see what was paid and whether anything is still owed.

    Why: It helps settle any mistakes before the case closes.

Deadlines

When support usually ends in your state

General rule: see state

Choose your state above to see its rule, or open your state's page in the list at the bottom.

Which state's rule applies

General rule: The law of the state that issued the order, even after a move (28 U.S.C. 1738B(h)(2))

Official source

Documents to gather

  • Your child support order and any later changes
  • The child's birth certificate
  • Proof of school enrollment or graduation date, if it matters in your state
  • Medical records, if the child has a disability
  • A payment history from the agency

Where to go

  • StateYour state child support agency

    Ask when your case's support ends and how withholding stops

    Choose your state above to see the office for your state.

  • LocalThe court that made the order (clerk or self-help center)

    Ask to extend support (disability, school, college where allowed) or to end it

Costs

Ending or extending support through the agency is part of its services. A court motion may have a filing fee you can ask to waive.

Talk to a lawyer if

  • Your child has a disability and support may need to continue into adulthood
  • You want support for college
  • The order covers several children and the amount needs to change
  • The parents or the child live in different states
  • There is a large amount of past-due support

Free help

Free legal aid for people with low income: find your local office through the Legal Services Corporation (lsc.gov/about-lsc/what-legal-aid/i-need-legal-help) or LawHelp.org (lawhelp.org). Family court self-help centers can show you the forms to end or extend support; ask the court clerk.

Guides for your state

Choose your state above for direct links to its pages.

Guides for every state

Questions

When support usually ends in your state: what is the rule?

It depends on the state. see state

Which state's rule applies: what is the rule?

The law of the state that issued the order, even after a move (28 U.S.C. 1738B(h)(2))

When should I talk to a lawyer?

Your child has a disability and support may need to continue into adulthood; You want support for college; The order covers several children and the amount needs to change; The parents or the child live in different states; There is a large amount of past-due support.

How much does it cost?

Ending or extending support through the agency is part of its services. A court motion may have a filing fee you can ask to waive.

Plans by state

Open the plan with one state's rules filled in:

Sources

Plan checked Oct 2026. Independently fact-checked 2026-10-25.

This plan is general legal information, not legal advice. RobinClaim is not a law firm. Laws and deadlines change and have exceptions: check with the official source or a lawyer or legal aid office about your own case. How we research.