Skip to content
Oakclause

When Child Support Ends in Vermont

In Vermont, a court may order child support until the child reaches 18 or finishes secondary education, whichever is later.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Vermont at a glance

Support ends at
18
High school extension
Yes, to end of secondary education, if later than 18
Court can order college support
No
The statute allows support only to majority or the end of secondary education, whichever is later.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Vermont

At what age does child support end in Vermont?

Support ends at in Vermont: 18.

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

High school extension in Vermont: Yes, to end of secondary education, if later than 18.

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

No. Court can order college support in Vermont: no. The statute allows support only to majority or the end of secondary education, whichever is later.

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

The rules above come from 15 V.S.A. 658(c) and 1 V.S.A. 173. 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.