Skip to content
Oakclause

When Child Support Ends in Texas

In Texas, a court may order child support until the child turns 18 or graduates from high school, whichever is later, if the child is enrolled and meets attendance rules.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Texas at a glance

Support ends at
18
High school extension
Yes, to high school graduation
The child must be enrolled in a high school diploma program and meet attendance requirements.
Court can order college support
No
Support past 18 is allowed only for high school enrollment or a disabled child.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Texas

At what age does child support end in Texas?

Support ends at in Texas: 18.

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

High school extension in Texas: Yes, to high school graduation. The child must be enrolled in a high school diploma program and meet attendance requirements.

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

No. Court can order college support in Texas: no. Support past 18 is allowed only for high school enrollment or a disabled child.

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

The rules above come from Tex. Fam. Code 154.001 and Tex. Fam. Code 154.002. 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.