When Does Child Support End?

Florida Governor Charlie Crist recently signed a bill that will modify when and how child support ends. In general Florida divorce or paternity cases, child support ends as the child reaches the age of majority (turning 18 years old). However, the Statutes regarding Florida family law allow for child support to continue if the child remains dependent on his or her parents because of a physical or mental incapacity that occurred prior to the child turning 18, or if the child is still in high school, performing in good faith and with a reasonable expectation of graduation before the age of 19.

The new statute modifies when child support will end. Before the statute was passed, child support did not automatically end when the child reached the age where child support should terminate. The old law required parties to obtain a new court order, at the time the child reached the age of majority, modifying or ending child support. The new statute provides that for all child support award orders entered after October 1, 2010, the court must provide dates when the child support obligation should be modified or terminated.

Contact your expert Tampa family law attorney to see if this new change to the child support statute will affect your family.