The cost of raising a child is higher than most people anticipate. From school activities to birthday presents, there are constant financial demands made of parents. Court-ordered child support helps divorced parents and unmarried parents who stop living together share financial responsibility for their children.
The parent with more income or less parenting time typically provides child support to the other parent. Most people expect child support to end immediately when the recipient turns 18. However, there are a few exceptions in state law that may allow for child support to continue past a child’s 18th birthday.
What might lead to continued child support obligations?
1. When a child is still in high school
Due to how schools classify students during enrollment, some young adults turn 18 during their final year in high school. Others may have academic challenges that mean they don’t finish school until a year or two after they technically become adults. In either scenario, child support may continue so long as the child maintains full-time enrollment in a high school.
2. When a child has special needs
Physical and mental disabilities, as well as developmental disorders, can prevent a child from becoming independent. When a young adult has serious medical challenges that make them fully dependent on parental caregivers even after their 18th birthday, the courts may agree to continue child support to reflect that degree of dependence.
3. When parents agree on specific terms
In some cases, parents might voluntarily agree to continue support past a child’s 18th birthday. For example, parents might agree to share financial obligations when their teenager enrolls in college.
Understanding how long child support may last is important both for those paying and receiving child support. Ensuring financial fairness is an important element of successfully sharing custody after a divorce.