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When Child Support Ends in Missouri

In Missouri, child support generally ends at 18, continues to 21 for a child still in secondary school, and continues to 21 for a child enrolled in vocational or higher education who meets credit and grade requirements.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Missouri at a glance

Support ends at
18
Support is deemed terminated at 21 unless the order requires payment beyond 21 for an incapacitated child.
High school extension
Yes, to end of the program or age 21
Court can order college support
Yes, up to age 21
Child must enroll by October 1 after graduation, carry at least 12 credit hours per semester and send transcripts.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Missouri

At what age does child support end in Missouri?

Support ends at in Missouri: 18. Support is deemed terminated at 21 unless the order requires payment beyond 21 for an incapacitated child.

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

High school extension in Missouri: Yes, to end of the program or age 21.

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

Yes, up to age 21. Court can order college support in Missouri: yes, up to age 21. Child must enroll by October 1 after graduation, carry at least 12 credit hours per semester and send transcripts.

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

The rules above come from Mo. Rev. Stat. 452.340. 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.