When Does Child Support Terminate in Florida?
Child support payments do not usually last indefinitely. Instead, there is a definite end date: typically when your child reaches adulthood. Call Hamilton O’Neill if you have questions about child support. We have represented men and women in custody disputes, including disputes over child support. Our team can analyze the facts of your case to determine when you may stop paying support.
General Rule: Child Support Ends at 18, or When Your Child Graduates High School
Florida Statute § 61.13 governs parental responsibilities. It states that child support orders should terminate on a child’s 18th birthday, but this obligation may continue past the child’s 18th birthday when they are still attending high school but are reasonably expected to graduate before turning 19.
This is the general rule, which applies to most people. Many children turn 18 during their senior year in high school, and child support will continue until the child graduates, provided they graduate before reaching 19. After graduation, your child is on their own as an adult, and the paying parent can stop with support.
Exceptions to the General Rule
There are some situations where a parent might continue to pay support, even past the age of 18:
- A parent agrees to continue to support their children. Some parents continue to support their children through college. However, the law does not force you to support a child after they reach the age of majority.
- An adult child needs continuing support due to disability. Some children are mentally or physically disabled and unable to support themselves once they reach adulthood. A court might order parents to continue to support their dependent child. For example, a child could have intellectual disabilities and be unable to work, so parental support is ordered.
Some high-income clients fear the court will order them to support an adult child. Your spouse might be pushing for you to agree to cover college tuition, room and board, and other expenses. Unless you agree to, or unless a child is disabled, then the court should not order ongoing support.
Call our office to discuss your concerns. If you are drafting or reviewing a prenuptial agreement, then continued support of adult children is sometimes included. You should think carefully if you want to legally obligate yourself to support a child after high school. Another option parents find attractive is to make gifts as they see fit when a child reaches adulthood.
Speak with a Miami Child Support Lawyer
Contact Hamilton O’Neill to go over any dispute you are having regarding child support. Child support represents a considerable expense, and you should have all your questions answered before agreeing to pay any amount of money. In a consultation, we can discuss what factors go into calculating child support in the typical divorce or paternity action. We can also discuss how your family’s high income will impact a judge’s analysis of the case. Our firm is dedicated to protecting our clients’ rights. Speak with a Miami child support lawyer today.
Source:
flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2024/61.13