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When Child Support Ends in Kentucky

In Kentucky, child support generally ends when the child is emancipated at 18, but continues for a high school student through the end of the school year in which the child turns 19.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Kentucky at a glance

Support ends at
18
Support ends at emancipation unless a written agreement or the decree says otherwise.
High school extension
Yes, through the school year the child turns 19

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Kentucky

At what age does child support end in Kentucky?

Support ends at in Kentucky: 18. Support ends at emancipation unless a written agreement or the decree says otherwise.

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

High school extension in Kentucky: Yes, through the school year the child turns 19.

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

The rules above come from Ky. Rev. Stat. 403.213(3). 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.