Child support end before age 18?

  1. If a child (age 17) graduates high school early, moves out of the custodial parent home and supports themselves, is the non-custodial parent required to continue paying child support to the custodial parent until said child turns 18?
  2. If a court order is in place for child support does the non-custodial parent need to seek a court order to stop child support or simply notify Department of Social Services in the county they live?

The court order does not specify when child support should stop.

Child support automatically terminates when a child has turned 18 and graduates from high school without a court order. In your case, child support can stop when the minor child is emancipated by a court order.

If child support is being paid pursuant to a court order through DSS/child support enforcement (CSE), then it would be best to notify the CSE agent of the fact that the minor child has graduated from high school, no longer lives with either parent, and supports himself/herself.


Anna Ayscue

Attorney with Rosen Law Firm Cary • Chapel Hill • Durham • Raleigh • Wake Forest

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