One constant in child custody decisions is the issue of child support. This is money paid by the parent who has physical custody most of the time by the parent who does not. The funds are intended for the child’s welfare and well-being. But like alimony payments, child support is not normally a permanent, life-long payment.
Generally, child support in the Lone Star State is paid until a child is 18, the age of majority, or 19 if still in high school, ending at graduation. If the child graduates before the age of 18, child support payments continue until their 18th birthday.
Since a child is considered an adult at the age of 18, a parent is not required to continue paying except in specific circumstances. If you have more than one, child support will end when the youngest child turns 18.
When A Child Turns 18
Contact the Domestic Relations Office (DRO) at your local family court at least 45 days before your payments are scheduled to end. A parent must file a Motion to Terminate Withholding for Child Support if the support is removed by payroll withholding. A Fort Worth family law attorney can help you file the motion with the court.
One parent must petition the court to end the process before they can stop the disbursements. Ending child support in Texas is not automatic as it is in other states like Louisiana. Stopping payments without a court order will generate legal consequences just as it does before the child turns 18.
In some cases, you may be required to continue paying child support even if your parental rights have been terminated. This would continue until the child is adopted, the child turns 18, and/or graduates from high school.
Can Child Support Be Extended After Age 18?
It can be under certain conditions. As previously mentioned, if the child is 19 and still in high school, child support can be extended until the child graduates. A parent is not required to pay for a child’s college education in the state of Texas.
A child with physical and/or mental disabilities that renders them unable to support themselves and requires significant care can also be a cause for extending child support past 18. The disability must have been known to the parents while the child was still a minor. In this case, the court may order lifetime child support based on their disabilities and inability to care for themselves.
Ending Child Support Early
Under some conditions, child support can end before age 18 if the child:
- Becomes emancipated through the courts and ruled legally an adult
- Gets married
- Enlists in the military
- Dies before their 18th birthday
In each case, a parent must petition the court and request ending child support payments just as they would if the child was turning 18 and graduating from high school.
Unpaid Child Support
If a parent is in arrears on child support, the unpaid amount will have to be paid in full before the monthly child support requirements can end. The judge will hear the requests in a scheduled hearing and make a decision.
Get Help With Child Support And Other Family Law Matters
Wendy L. Hart is an experienced family law attorney serving families throughout Tarrant County and the Fort Worth area. We represent both men and women in family law matters, and are happy to discuss your child support claim with you. Use our online contact form, or call us at (817) 842-2336 for an appointment.
