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When Child Support Ends in South Carolina

In South Carolina, child support runs until 18, or longer for a child still in high school, up to graduation or the end of the school year after the child turns 19, whichever is later.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

South Carolina at a glance

Support ends at
18
A court may also extend support for disability or other exceptional circumstances.
High school extension
Yes, to later of graduation or school year end after 19

Sources

Last checked

The rules in South Carolina

At what age does child support end in South Carolina?

Support ends at in South Carolina: 18. A court may also extend support for disability or other exceptional circumstances.

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

High school extension in South Carolina: Yes, to later of graduation or school year end after 19.

Where do the South Carolina child support end age laws come from?

The rules above come from S.C. Code 63-3-530(A)(17). Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

Good to know

The statute lets the court continue support past 18 for physical or mental disabilities or other exceptional circumstances.

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.

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