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When Child Support Ends in Washington

In Washington, child support generally ends at emancipation at 18, a court may extend it to finish high school, and a court may order postsecondary educational support, usually not past age 23.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Washington at a glance

Support ends at
18
High school extension
Yes, if the court finds a need to finish high school
Court can order college support
Yes, generally up to age 23
The child must be dependent, enrolled, and in good academic standing.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Washington

At what age does child support end in Washington?

Support ends at in Washington: 18.

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

High school extension in Washington: Yes, if the court finds a need to finish high school.

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

Yes, generally up to age 23. Court can order college support in Washington: yes, generally up to age 23. The child must be dependent, enrolled, and in good academic standing.

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

The rules above come from Rev. Code Wash. 26.09.170, Rev. Code Wash. 26.19.090 and Rev. Code Wash. 26.28.010. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

Good to know

A new version of RCW 26.09.170 takes effect April 1, 2027; it keeps the rule allowing support to be extended to complete high school.

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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