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When Child Support Ends in Ohio

In Ohio, court-ordered child support ends at 18 unless the child keeps attending an accredited high school full time, the child is disabled, or the parents agreed to more in a separation agreement.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Ohio at a glance

Support ends at
18
High school extension
Yes, while in high school full time
Since March 20, 2025 (H.B. 338) the statute no longer caps this extension at age 19.
Court can order college support
No, only by agreement
Support past 18 is limited to high school, disability, or a separation agreement incorporated into the decree.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Ohio

At what age does child support end in Ohio?

Support ends at in Ohio: 18.

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

High school extension in Ohio: Yes, while in high school full time. Since March 20, 2025 (H.B. 338) the statute no longer caps this extension at age 19.

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

No, only by agreement. Court can order college support in Ohio: no, only by agreement. Support past 18 is limited to high school, disability, or a separation agreement incorporated into the decree.

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

The rules above come from Ohio Rev. Code 3119.86 and Ohio Rev. Code 3119.88. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

Good to know

Ohio Rev. Code 3119.86 was amended by House Bill 338 (135th General Assembly), effective March 20, 2025. The earlier version said a court order could not remain in effect after age 19 unless the order provided otherwise; the current text has no such limit.

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.