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When Child Support Ends in Virginia

In Virginia, support continues past 18 for a full-time high school student who is not self-supporting and lives at home, until age 19 or graduation, whichever comes first.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Virginia at a glance

Support ends at
18
High school extension
Yes, to graduation or age 19, whichever is first
The child must be a full-time high school student, not self-supporting, and living with the parent receiving support.
Court can order college support
No, only by agreement
A court may confirm a parents' agreement that extends support beyond the legal end date.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Virginia

At what age does child support end in Virginia?

Support ends at in Virginia: 18.

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

High school extension in Virginia: Yes, to graduation or age 19, whichever is first. The child must be a full-time high school student, not self-supporting, and living with the parent receiving support.

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

No, only by agreement. Court can order college support in Virginia: no, only by agreement. A court may confirm a parents' agreement that extends support beyond the legal end date.

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

The rules above come from Va. Code 20-124.2(C). 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.