Legal Question in Family Law in Massachusetts

Re: After 18, Child support

It will really depend on the language of the Child Support Order. Generally speaking, the majority of orders provide that support will end on the child's 18th birthday or upon the first of the following to occur: 1) graduation from secondary school if the child turns 18 during the school year, or 2) the child's 19th birthday. However, depending on your circumstances, the order may require you to pay support for a longer period. There are certainly cases where support is sometimes ordered when the child is older than 19, and other orders may require the non-custodial parent to contribute to college or further education. You will need to carefully review the order. If the order is silent, you will want to contact an attorney to determine the specifics of your case. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any further questions.