Parents have a duty to provide for their children financially, but it is important to understand when the child support obligation ends. Sometimes there are situations that might extend the obligation or cause it to end earlier than expected.
Bring your questions to a Fairfield child support termination lawyer. At Dolan Divorce Lawyers, our dedicated child support attorneys can explain when child support typically ends and advise you about circumstances that might extend the obligation.
The obligation to pay child support typically ends when the child reaches the age of majority, which is 18 in Connecticut. However, if the child is still attending high school on their 18th birthday, child support must continue until their graduation. The obligation usually ends when the child turns 19, whether they have graduated from high school or not.
Certain events can end child support early. If a child marries, joins the military, or leaves a parent’s home and becomes self-supporting, the child is considered emancipated, and the support obligation ends.
A parent whose child has emancipated should speak with a Fairfield attorney about terminating child support. A legal professional could prepare a court petition to terminate support based on emancipation. The paying parent must continue to comply with the existing order until a judge issues a new order ending the obligation.
When a child has significant disabilities that impact their ability to live independently, Connecticut General Statutes §46b-84 allows a court to extend child support until age 26. The rules around child support for severely disabled people are complex, so parents should speak candidly with a Fairfield attorney about their child’s needs for ongoing financial support.
A court cannot extend the obligation to cover the period of time a child is enrolled in post-secondary education, regardless of whether the child remains financially dependent on their parents. However, Connecticut’s post-secondary educational support statute provides the court authority to enter orders as it relates to each parent’s contributions to tuition, housing, and other related costs where the parents are unable to agree amongst themselves.
Child support orders usually include a termination date or event. When the time is approaching, paying parents should review their child support payment arrangements and confirm that their money will stop being directed toward child support.
Many parents pay child support through direct withdrawal from their paycheck. The parent should speak with their employer to confirm that the deductions will stop as of the termination date, and if not, they should consult with an attorney about the court’s process to terminate the income withholding order in place. Parents who pay through automatic deductions from their bank account should take the necessary steps to deauthorize the automatic payments.
If an event occurs that merits early termination of payments, such as a minor child enlisting in the military, a parent would need a court order before they stop paying. A Fairfield attorney can prepare a petition describing the relevant events and ask for a child support termination order. A judge will hold a hearing before issuing a termination order if the parents cannot independently come to an agreement.
You have a duty to meet your children’s basic needs, but that obligation ends once they can support themselves. If you believe you no longer have a legal obligation to provide financial assistance for your child, speak with a Fairfield child support termination lawyer.
Schedule a meeting today to discuss how you can end your child support obligations.
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