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When Does Child Support End? Laws by State

Child support is money one parent pays to help cover a child's living costs after a separation or divorce. The duty to pay does not last forever. State law sets the age at which support normally ends, and a support order usually repeats that rule or names its own end date.

50 states compared. Last checked .

At a glance

Support ends at: range
age 18 to age 21
Across the 49 jurisdictions with a single statewide figure.
Court can order college support
11 of 36
States and DC where the answer is yes or yes in some cases.

Compare child support end age laws

States handle the end of support in different ways. The basic end age is tied to the age of majority or to a separate age set in the support statute. Many laws extend support while a child is still in high school, often up to a set age, and some let a court order support for college or other education after high school.

50 of 50 shown

High school extensionSources
ALAlabama19Not listedNo
AKAlaska18Yes, for an unmarried 18-year-old in high schoolApplies while the child is actively pursuing a high school diploma or equivalent technical or vocational training and lives as a dependent with a parent or guardian.Not listed
AZArizona18Yes, while in high school, up to age 19Also applies to a certified high school equivalency program. A court can also order support past majority for a child with a severe disability that began before 18.No
ARArkansas18Yes, to earlier of graduation or school year end after 19Ends at high school graduation or the end of the school year after the child turns 19, whichever is earlier.Not listed
CACalifornia18Yes, to end of 12th grade or age 19, whichever is firstThe child must be unmarried, a full-time high school student (unless excused for a documented medical condition) and not self-supporting.No, only by agreement
COColorado19Yes, to the end of the month after graduationA child who drops out and later reenrolls is entitled to support again until the end of the month after graduation, but not beyond 21.No, only by written agreement
CTConnecticut18Yes, to end of 12th grade or age 19, whichever is firstApplies to an unmarried full-time high school student in need of maintenance, in decrees entered on or after July 1, 1994.Yes, up to age 23
DEDelaware18Yes, to diploma or age 19, whichever is firstThe child must be a high school student who is likely to graduate.No
FLFlorida18Yes, if expected to graduate before age 19The child must be dependent in fact, still in high school and performing in good faith.No
GAGeorgia18Yes, while in secondary school, up to age 20Applies to a child who has not married or been emancipated and is enrolled in and attending secondary school.No
HIHawaii18Yes, for an adult child pursuing educationProof of full-time enrollment must reach the child support agency before the child's 19th birthday or payments may be suspended.Yes
IDIdaho18Yes, at the court's discretion, up to age 19Ends when the child discontinues high school or turns 19, whichever is sooner.No
ILIllinois18Yes, to graduation or age 19, whichever is firstThe order's termination date is no earlier than the earlier of high school graduation or the child's 19th birthday.Yes, generally up to age 23
INIndiana19Yes, to graduation if notice is filedA parent or guardian must file notice with the court that the child is or will remain enrolled full time in secondary school.Yes
IAIowa18Yes, while completing high school, up to age 19The child must be engaged full time in completing high school graduation or equivalency requirements, expected to finish before 19.No
KSKansas18Yes, to June 30, extendable to school year of age 19Extension past June 30 needs a motion, a bona fide high school student, and parents who jointly took part in or knowingly accepted the delay.No, only by written agreement
KYKentucky18Yes, through the school year the child turns 19Not listed
LALouisiana18Yes, full-time student in good standing, up to age 19Not listed
MEMaine18Yes, to graduation or age 19, whichever is firstNot listed
MDMaryland18Yes, to graduation, leaving school or 19, whichever is firstNot listed
MAMassachusetts18 (to 21 if dependent, 23 if in school)No separate rule: support may run to 21 if dependentYes, up to age 23
MIMichigan18Yes, full time in high school, up to age 19 and 6 monthsNo, only by agreement
MNMinnesota18Yes, while in secondary school, up to age 20Not listed
MSMississippi21No separate rule: support runs to 21Not listed
MOMissouri18Yes, to end of the program or age 21Yes, up to age 21
MTMontanaEmancipation, no later than 19Yes, to graduation, but not past age 19Not listed
NENebraska19No separate rule: support runs to 19Not listed
NVNevada18Yes, while in high school, up to age 19No, only by agreement
NHNew Hampshire18Yes, to graduation or 2 months after 19, whichever is firstNo
NJNew Jersey19Yes, on request, up to age 23Yes, up to age 23
NMNew Mexico18Yes, to graduation if under age 19No, only by written agreement
NYNew York21No separate rule: support runs to 21Yes
NCNorth Carolina18Yes, to graduation or age 20, whichever is firstThe court may order that payments stop at 18 or before high school graduation.Not listed
NDNorth Dakota18Yes, to graduation or age 19, whichever is firstThe child must be enrolled in and attending high school and live with the parent who receives support.Not listed
OHOhio18Yes, while in high school full timeSince March 20, 2025 (H.B. 338) the statute no longer caps this extension at age 19.No, only by agreement
OKOklahoma18Yes, to graduation or age 20, whichever is firstNo hearing or new order is needed to extend support for a full-time high school student.No
OROregon18Yes, while attending school, up to age 21The child must be unmarried, make satisfactory academic progress and carry at least half of a full-time course load.Yes, up to age 21
PAPennsylvania18Yes, to graduation if later than 18Court rules tie the emancipation review to the 18th birthday or high school graduation, whichever is last.Not listed
RIRhode Island18Yes, to 90 days after graduation, but not past age 19The court decides in its discretion; it can include education costs.No
SCSouth Carolina18Yes, to later of graduation or school year end after 19Not listed
SDSouth Dakota18Yes, while in high school full time, up to age 19No
TNTennessee18Yes, to graduation, but not past age 19No
TXTexas18Yes, to high school graduationThe child must be enrolled in a high school diploma program and meet attendance requirements.No
UTUtah18Yes, to graduation in the normal expected yearConditional: divorce courts may order support to 21
VTVermont18Yes, to end of secondary education, if later than 18No
VAVirginia18Yes, to graduation or age 19, whichever is firstThe child must be a full-time high school student, not self-supporting, and living with the parent receiving support.No, only by agreement
WAWashington18Yes, if the court finds a need to finish high schoolYes, generally up to age 23
WVWest Virginia18Yes, while in high school full time, up to age 20No
WIWisconsin18Yes, while pursuing a diploma or equivalent, up to age 19No
WYWyoming18Yes, while in high school full time, up to age 20No

District of Columbia is not listed because we could not confirm the current rule from the statute text.

General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.

What this means in practice

Support does not always stop on its own. Depending on the state and the order, the paying parent may need to ask the court or the child support agency to end or adjust the order, and past-due support remains owed after the end date.

When there is more than one child on an order, the amount may not drop automatically when the oldest child reaches the end age. Reviewing how the order is written, and whether it lists a separate amount per child, helps show what happens next.

Parents can often agree in a divorce or separation agreement to pay for things the law does not require, such as college costs. A written agreement approved by the court can be enforced like an order, so its wording matters and a local family law attorney can review it.

Related documents

When Does Child Support End? Laws: state by state

Frequently asked questions

Does child support end automatically when a child turns 18?

Not always. The end age varies by state and some states extend support while the child finishes high school. Whether payments stop on their own or require a court or agency step depends on the state and on the wording of the order.

Can child support continue while a child is in high school?

In many states, yes. Laws often extend support for a child who is still attending high school full time, usually up to a set age. The rules on what counts as attending school differ by state.

Can a parent be ordered to pay for college?

It depends on the state. Some states allow a court to order support for college or other post-secondary education, often with limits on age or cost. In other states a court cannot order it, but parents can still agree to it in writing.

What about a child with a disability?

Many states allow support to continue past the usual end age for an adult child who cannot support themselves because of a physical or mental disability. The conditions and the process are set by state law.

Is past-due child support erased when the child reaches the end age?

No. Unpaid support that built up before the end date generally stays owed and can still be collected after the duty to pay ongoing support ends.

Which states have the highest and lowest support ends at?

Among the 49 jurisdictions with a single statewide figure, support ends at ranges from age 18 (Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut and Delaware and others) to age 21 (Mississippi and New York). The most common figure is age 18 (42 jurisdictions). Check each state's page for exceptions.

Court can order college support: which states say yes?

Of the 36 jurisdictions we checked, the answer is yes in 10 jurisdictions, in some cases in 1, no in 25. Yes: Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Oregon and Washington. In some cases: Utah.

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