If you make your payments on time, your obligation ends when your family's situation meets the requirements described in your divorce decree or court order. She specializes in family law and estate law and has mediated family custody issues. They don’t give legal advice. Site Navigation. Get legal advice. Whether you’ll have to depends on your state’s unique rules. In Mississippi, New York and the District of Columbia, the age of majority is 21. Age of Majority. Once a child is considered a legal adult, the non-custodial parent is no longer required to pay child support payments. logic behind this is that a portion of the base child support is to pay for Several different factors can muddy the waters and it’s not uncommon for a parent to pay support beyond this age. These ages typically only apply if your child has graduated from high school. Law for Families provides all the legal information that you and your family need. To find out whether your obligation to pay child support is ending, you can contact the child support agency in your state for help in determining your child support end date, or speak with an attorney to discuss your specific rights and responsibilities.  However, the longer a child has been in the workforce, the more a judge will expect that child to have the money to put towards education before looking to parents. A judge does has the discretion to enter an order for child support that terminates when the child reaches 18, if, for example, it is unlikely that the child will continue to be dependent or live with the custodial parent when the child reaches age 18. that he or she remains dependent and cannot obtain employment that is adequate You can also use the search on the right to find lots more articles on child support.  For example, it is harder to hit up parents for child support when an employer gives a child leave to do an MBA with a promise of a better position and higher salary on return. Figuring out when child support ends is crucial. Family And CHILDREN'S' RIghts Litigation, Mediation, Arbitration, Collaborative Law - 416-446-5080 CLICK TO EMAIL. in one of two circumstances: 1.              other arrangements can be made for their support to suit their particular