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When Child Support Ends in Utah

In Utah, child support ends when the child turns 18 or graduates from high school in the normal year, whichever is later, and divorce courts may order support to age 21.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Utah at a glance

Support ends at
18
High school extension
Yes, to graduation in the normal expected year
Court can order college support
Conditional: divorce courts may order support to 21
Utah law lets divorce courts order support to 21; it does not mention college expressly.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Utah

At what age does child support end in Utah?

Support ends at in Utah: 18.

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

High school extension in Utah: Yes, to graduation in the normal expected year.

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

Conditional: divorce courts may order support to 21. Court can order college support in Utah: conditional: divorce courts may order support to 21. Utah law lets divorce courts order support to 21; it does not mention college expressly.

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

The rules above come from Utah Code 81-6-213, Utah Code 81-6-101 and Utah Code 15-2-1. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

Good to know

Utah's child support statutes are in Title 81, Chapter 6 of the Utah Code. The definition of when a child is emancipated for support purposes is in Section 81-6-213, last amended in the 2026 General Session.

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.