If you have been ordered to pay
child support or anticipate doing so, you may be wondering when will the payments stop.
In Florida, monthly child support payments stop once the child becomes
18 years of age and graduates from high school unless the parents agree
otherwise. If there are other children involved, the amount of the monthly
payments will be proportionally reduced as each child turns 18.
However, there are some cases where a noncustodial parent must continue
making payments beyond the age of 18, perhaps until the child becomes
19 years old. But if a child is not on track to graduate high school before
19, then the child support will end on his/her 18th birthday.
The following are the most common situations when a child continues receiving
support after turning 18:
- The child graduates from high school after turning 18
- The child graduates from high school after turning 19
But if a child has special needs and will never be able to become self-supporting
adults, then child support payments may continue indefinitely. But if
you have a special needs child and you realize that he/she will never
be able to financially support himself/herself when his/her 18th birthday approaches, you must petition the court for modification on child
support to extend the payments for life. This must be done before the
child turns 18, or else the case will not be reopened.
If you are interested in modifying a child support order in Daytona Beach,
contact the Law Offices of Robert Stepniak and schedule a free consultation today.