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When Child Support Ends in Rhode Island

In Rhode Island, child support generally ends at 18, but a court may order support for a child in high school at 18 until 90 days after graduation, never past age 19.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Rhode Island at a glance

Support ends at
18
High school extension
Yes, to 90 days after graduation, but not past age 19
The court decides in its discretion; it can include education costs.
Court can order college support
No
High school support may not run beyond the 19th birthday; a separate rule covers children with a severe impairment.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Rhode Island

At what age does child support end in Rhode Island?

Support ends at in Rhode Island: 18.

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

High school extension in Rhode Island: Yes, to 90 days after graduation, but not past age 19. The court decides in its discretion; it can include education costs.

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

No. Court can order college support in Rhode Island: no. High school support may not run beyond the 19th birthday; a separate rule covers children with a severe impairment.

Where do the Rhode Island child support end age laws come from?

The rules above come from R.I. Gen. Laws 15-5-16.2(b). 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.