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When Child Support Ends in Georgia

In Georgia, child support continues until the child reaches 18, the age of majority, and a court can extend it for a child still enrolled in secondary school, but not past age 20.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Georgia at a glance

Support ends at
18
Support also ends earlier if the child dies, marries or is emancipated.
High school extension
Yes, while in secondary school, up to age 20
Applies to a child who has not married or been emancipated and is enrolled in and attending secondary school.
Court can order college support
No
The statute extends support past majority only for secondary school; it does not provide for college support.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Georgia

At what age does child support end in Georgia?

Support ends at in Georgia: 18. Support also ends earlier if the child dies, marries or is emancipated.

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

High school extension in Georgia: Yes, while in secondary school, up to age 20. Applies to a child who has not married or been emancipated and is enrolled in and attending secondary school.

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

No. Court can order college support in Georgia: no. The statute extends support past majority only for secondary school; it does not provide for college support.

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

The rules above come from Ga. Code 19-6-15(e) and Ga. Code 39-1-1. 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.