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When Child Support Ends in Delaware

In Delaware, the duty of support covers children under 18 and continues for a high school student likely to graduate until the child receives a diploma or turns 19, whichever comes first.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Delaware at a glance

Support ends at
18
High school extension
Yes, to diploma or age 19, whichever is first
The child must be a high school student who is likely to graduate.
Court can order college support
No
The statute extends support past 18 only for high school students; it does not provide for college support.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Delaware

At what age does child support end in Delaware?

Support ends at in Delaware: 18.

Does child support continue in Delaware while a child is still in high school?

High school extension in Delaware: Yes, to diploma or age 19, whichever is first. The child must be a high school student who is likely to graduate.

Can a court in Delaware order a parent to pay support for college?

No. Court can order college support in Delaware: no. The statute extends support past 18 only for high school students; it does not provide for college support.

Where do the Delaware child support end age laws come from?

The rules above come from Del. Code tit. 13, 501. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

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.

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