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When Child Support Ends in Massachusetts

In Massachusetts, a court may order support for a child aged 18 to 21 who lives with and is principally dependent on a parent, and up to age 23 for a child enrolled in an educational program.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Massachusetts at a glance

Support ends at
18 (to 21 if dependent, 23 if in school)
Support past 18 requires the child to live with and be principally dependent on a parent.
High school extension
No separate rule: support may run to 21 if dependent
Court can order college support
Yes, up to age 23
Excludes educational costs beyond an undergraduate degree.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Massachusetts

At what age does child support end in Massachusetts?

Support ends at in Massachusetts: 18 (to 21 if dependent, 23 if in school). Support past 18 requires the child to live with and be principally dependent on a parent.

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

High school extension in Massachusetts: No separate rule: support may run to 21 if dependent.

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

Yes, up to age 23. Court can order college support in Massachusetts: yes, up to age 23. Excludes educational costs beyond an undergraduate degree.

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

The rules above come from Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 208, 28. 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.