Some people think that child support will end when their child turns 18 years old. They are legally an adult, so your obligations to make payments should be done, right? That’s not really how the state sees it though. Most of these agreements last a few years longer, and our Dallas County child support lawyers can tell you more about which factors are likely to affect your arrangement.
When Does Child Support End?
Child support agreements would normally terminate by the time a child turns 19, provided that they are no longer in high school. However, this does not mean that a support arrangement has to end once they have reached that age. It’s difficult for people that age to make it on their own, and even if the law considers your child an adult in many ways they are probably still going to be reliant on you in some way. Unless your child graduates from high school and immediately secures a full-time job that gives them complete independence from you, they are likely to still need financial support.
Can Child Support End Later in Some Situations?
The most common reason to extend a support agreement is continued schooling. If your child pursues a college degree or enrolls in another education program, you may need to keep paying for their expenses. Sometimes this arrangement is made through the courts, but parents can also make their own more informal arrangements on their own.
A child with disabilities is also likely to need support for longer. Even an extended support arrangement would usually end when the child turns 23 years old, but a disabled child is probably still going to need you. You and your ex should figure out a way to continue supporting your child, whether that means continuing your current arrangement or finding another way that you can both contribute to their living expenses.
What Happens if a Support Agreement Ends and I Still Owe My Ex Money?
It’s important to make your support payments on time. If you are late often and those back payments pile up, your former spouse can bring you to court and compel you to pay them. Once your agreement ends, you must still pay any support that you owe or you can get in trouble.
Let’s say your child graduates college and your support agreement ends, but you owe your ex $5,000, that debt does not disappear. You can still be brought to court for unpaid support no matter how old your child is!
Talk to Our Legal Team
If you have questions about your current support agreement with your spouse or you want to change its terms, we may be able to help. Contact Iowa Defenders, PLLC and schedule a consultation with our team. We are ready to assist you.
