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When Does Child Support End

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When does child support end is a question asked by many women as they face the prospect of their children leaving home. What if my child enlists in the military or goes off to college? Will child support stop if my daughter is pregnant? A lot will depend on what was written into your divorce decree and if your state would consider your child emancipated. Below you will find answers to these and similar questions.

When does child support end?

Terry's Question:  My son will turn 18 next month. Will I stop receiving child support at that time, even though he is still in high school and living at home with me? At what point does my ex's obligation end?

Brette's Answer:  Check your court order. In most states child support continues past age 18.  You can also contact the child support agency for assistance in determining the child support end date.

Will child support end if I get remarried?

Autumn's Question: If I get remarried to another man does my child support end, or can my ex stop paying it?

Brette's Answer: Neither. He can seek to modify it is your household income has changed though.

How do I find out if support ends when my child turns 18?

Faith's Question: How do I know if my child support will end when my child turns 18? Who do I contact?

Brette's Answer: If it is collected by your state child collection support unit, call them. Otherwise, consult your court order.  »Return to top

Will child support end if my son drops out of school?

Karen's Question: Does my husband have to pay child support if his son drops out of school?

Brette's Answer:  It depends on whether your son becomes emancipated (living independently).

Is child support owed if the child joins the national guard at 17?

Nivia's Question: I was 17 and still in school when I joined the national guard. Did I become emancipated? If so, does my father still have to pay child support?

Brette's Answer: It depends. If you went to boot camp, you probably were emancipated during that period, but if you moved back in with your parent, you may have become unemancipated. It depends on whether the National Guard paid you a stipend and what kind of support it provided and what kind of support you relied upon from your parents. It may also depend on whether they were in agreement with you joining. There's no clear cut answer here and it would be up to a court to consider all the circumstances and make a ruling.

Can he quit paying support if his 17 year old son goes to college?

Victoria's Question: My boyfriend is paying child support on his 17 year old son. His son told him that he has gotten a full scholarship to college and will be living on campus. Will his child support then stop since the mother will not be providing anything for this child?

Brette's Answer: No. Even a child on a full scholarship requires financial support since the scholarship covers only the cost of the education not other necessities. Good luck.   »Return to top

Does support continue thru college if I'm paying for her housing?

Sandra's Question: I receive $100 per wk. for child support per our divorce papers. I'm going to buy it a trailer and let my daughter stay there for free. I provide her food, pay her bills, her auto insurance, etc. My ex has said he will not pay child support anymore because she doesn't live with me. She will start college in the fall and he is supposed to pay support thru 2 years of college. My divorce papers say he has to pay until my child marries, becomes self supportive, or dies. I think he still has to pay, am I correct?

Brette's Answer: Based on what you've said, it sounds like it. Good luck

Can support be reinstated when she returns to college?

Lisa's Question: My daughter had to drop her college classes because she is going to be deployed. Child support enforcement told me she would no longer receive child support because she was not in college, even though it was not by choice. What, if anything, can I do to appeal this if they say she is no longer entitled to child support even when she returns to college?

Brette's Answer: Usually enlistment in the armed services means the child is emancipated and child support is no longer due.

Does child support end if the child gets pregnant?

Destanie's Question:  Does the father still have to pay child support if the daughter (who is 17) gets pregnant? What about whenever she has the baby?

Brette's Answer: The answer depends on whether the child has become emancipated - moved out and is independent. If she still is being supported by her parents, then child support is still paid.   »Return to top

How is support affected when a child moves out on her own?

Jessica's Question: My stepdaughter was recently pregnant at 17 and will be 18 soon. The baby died and now she no longer goes to school. She plans on getting her GED and moving out. When does child support end and does my husband still have to pay child support if she does this?

Brette's Answer:  Once she is emancipated (living on her own) child support is no longer due. He needs to get the order changed though to reflect that.

Am I entitled to the child support if my Mom died?

Tara's Question: My mother passed away two years ago. She was receiving child support from my father, and had a debit card that the money went onto. After she passed away, the card got shut off. Am I entitled to the child support that was on the card, and until I was 18? I am pretty sure that he owes back child support as well. I'm living on my own in Maine and don't have a job.  I need the money for clothing as well as food. 

Brette's Answer:  Since I'm assuming you are your mom's heir, you should inherit the money, as well as the right to sue for past due back support. If you are not her heir, technically the money belongs to her estate and whoever inherits that, gets the money. If you are under 18, your father still has a duty to support you and I'm assuming custody would have reverted back to him. However, it sounds as though you are emancipated since you're living on your own. In that case, he doesn't have any responsibility to help you financially. Have you thought about trying to talk to him and patch things up? You should get in touch with the Maine social services or department of family and children and ask them if there are any programs which can help you.

How is child support affected when the child becomes emancipated?

Jen's Question:  I'm currently getting child support with arrears included. My youngest daughter was told by her father to get emancipated, and the arrears would go directly to her.  Is this true?

Brette's Answer:  When a child becomes emancipated, no child support is due - to the parent or the child. 

Will my daughter have to attend the emancipation hearing?

Kris' Question: Is my eighteen year old daughter allowed to attend , (and worse off, testify against me!!) the "emancipation hearing in court? Isn't this ONLY between me and her father? She is NOT living on her own, she lives with me, my father and my step-mother.

Brette's Answer: If she is a witness, she will be called to testify.

Do I still have to pay support if my child dies?

Daniela's Question: Do I still have to pay child support if my child dies?

Brette's Answer:  No. Child support continues only while the child is alive. 

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