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When Child Support Ends in New Jersey

In New Jersey, child support ends by law at 19 unless extended, and can be continued up to 23 for a child still in high school or a full-time post-secondary student.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

New Jersey at a glance

Support ends at
19
Support also ends earlier if the child marries, dies or enters the military.
High school extension
Yes, on request, up to age 23
Court can order college support
Yes, up to age 23
Continuation for a full-time post-secondary student is requested in writing before the child turns 19 and needs court approval.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in New Jersey

At what age does child support end in New Jersey?

Support ends at in New Jersey: 19. Support also ends earlier if the child marries, dies or enters the military.

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

High school extension in New Jersey: Yes, on request, up to age 23.

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

Yes, up to age 23. Court can order college support in New Jersey: yes, up to age 23. Continuation for a full-time post-secondary student is requested in writing before the child turns 19 and needs court approval.

Where do the New Jersey child support end age laws come from?

The rules above come from N.J. Stat. 2A:17-56.67. 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.