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Does child support end at 18 or high school graduation in Maryland?
In Maryland, court-ordered child support usually ends when the child turns 18. However, if the child is still in high school, support may continue until the child graduates from high school or turns 19, whichever comes first.
That rule can sound simple, but it can get confusing. A child may turn 18 in the middle of senior year, a parent may still owe back support, and a wage order may keep pulling money from a paycheck even after the obligation should end. It’s also worth knowing that these rules describe what a court will order under Maryland law, and they do not replace what parents themselves agreed to in a signed Marital Settlement Agreement. A Howard County child support attorney at Coover Law Firm, LLC can help parents understand what their order or agreement says and what steps they may need to take.
When does child support actually end in Maryland?
Under Maryland family law, child support usually runs until the child turns 18. If the child is still enrolled in high school at that time, support may continue until the child finishes high school or turns 19. If a child turns 18 in November of senior year and graduates in June, support may continue through graduation. If the child is still in school but turns 19 before graduation, support usually ends at 19.
This means support ends when the child reaches the age specified by Maryland law, the terms of a court order, or an enforceable settlement agreement. Parents should not guess. It is best to read the order and check the child’s school status.
Some events may also affect support. For example, a child may become self-supporting, get married, or no longer live with the parent who receives support. Whether support ends or changes depends on the facts of the case and the terms of the existing court order.
What if your Marital Settlement Agreement says something different?
Maryland law sets the minimum, but parents can agree to more. In a signed Marital Settlement Agreement (MSA), parents can promise to pay support for longer, or in a higher amount, than the law requires, for example, continuing support past 18 or 19, or helping pay for college. A court will generally honor and enforce these added obligations, even though it would not have ordered them on its own.
One important limit: child support is owed to the child and cannot be waived, and a court keeps the authority to review and modify child support, even when it is set in an agreement. So an MSA can require a parent to pay more, or for longer, than the law requires, but it cannot take away the court’s power to review and adjust the child support itself.
What happens if child support is not paid before it ends?
Past-due child support does not go away just because the child turns 18 or graduates from high school. If a parent owes unpaid support, that debt is called arrears. Maryland may still collect that money after the current child support ends.
This can surprise parents. A person may think that since their child is grown, they’re done paying. That may be true for new monthly support, but not for old missed payments.
Arrears may result in enforcement measures, such as wage withholding, tax refund intercepts, license problems, Court hearings, or other collection steps. If a parent cannot pay the full amount at once, it is still important to deal with the issue instead of ignoring it.
Do you need to take action to stop or modify child support?
Sometimes, yes, and often the answer is that support does not stop on its own. Many parents assume support shuts off automatically when the child turns 18 or graduates. It does not. The legal obligation may end, but wage withholding and collection through the Child Support Administration continue until the court terminates the order. A parent usually has to file a Motion to Terminate Child Support and send proof of the child’s age, school status, or graduation date.
Stopping payments too early can cause arrears. Paying too long can also create stress and confusion. If there’s more than one child under the same order, support may not end fully when the oldest becomes an adult, and the Child Support amount may need to be changed by Court Order.
What if circumstances change before child support ends?
Life can change before a child turns 18 or finishes high school. A parent may lose a job. A child may move in with the other parent. Health insurance costs may change. Day care may end. A parent may have a major drop in income.
In Maryland, child support orders stay in place unless the Court changes them. A parent may be able to seek a review or modification if there has been a material change in circumstances. In some child support cases, the Child Support Administration may also review orders periodically.
A parent who loses a job still owes the same amount until the Court changes it. A parent who now has the child living with them may also need to ask the Court to suspend or change support.
What if your child support order was set before October 1, 2002?
Older orders may need special care. If a child support order was set before October 1, 2002, and the child is still in high school, the order may need to be modified to extend support until the child turns 19.
This may affect parents with long-standing orders. The order may not use the same language as newer Court Orders. It may not clearly say what happens if the child turns 18 before high school ends.
Parents should not assume the rule applies in the same way without checking. The wording of the order, dates, and the child’s school status matter.
Speak with a Howard County child support attorney about your case
If you are not sure when support ends, whether an MSA changes your obligations, whether you still owe arrears, or whether you need to file something with the Court, a Howard County child support attorney at Coover Law Firm, LLC can help. Contact Coover Law Firm, LLC at (410) 553-5042 or contact us online to have Mr. Coover review your order and explain your next step.
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