Criteria for Ending Child Support

Child support may end when your last or only child becomes emancipated. Emancipation happens if one of the following is true.

1. A child turns 19 years old, and he/she is not still in high school or an equivalent program.
2. The court decides that a child is emancipated.
3. A child gets married or enters into a civil union.
4. A child enters into active military duty.

If you and the other parent have a written agreement saying that child support keeps going after the child turns 19 years old, then you will follow that agreement as to when child support will end.

If your child is mentally or physically disabled, child support may be ordered to be continued even after your child turns 19 years old.

If your child is still in high school or an equivalent program when he/she turns 19 years old, child support will keep going until the end of the month after graduation.

If your child stops going to high school, but later goes back, he/she keeps getting child support until the end of the month after graduation. However, child support will usually not go beyond the age of 21 unless there are special circumstances.

How to File Together with the Other Parent

If you and the other parent decide to file your paperwork together, follow the steps below to file a Motion.

Forms and Paperwork Required

Use the forms link above to download and fill out JDF 1408 Motion to Terminate Child Support and JDF 1409 Order to Terminate Child Support. For detailed instructions on how to complete these forms, review JDF 1426 Instructions to File a Motion to Terminate Child Support.

You may have to complete other paperwork if you have more than one child, and you are ending child support on only one of your children. Additional paperwork may include JDF 1403 Motion to Modify Child Support. You may also need to determine what the new child support amount is for your other child using the child support calculator.

Paperwork Tips

Use the case number from your original case where child support was ordered.

You and the other parent will have the same identities to the court as you did in the original case. For example, if you were the Petitioner in the original case, you will be the Petitioner for this Motion.

You and the other parent will both sign JDF 1408 Motion to Terminate Child Support.

If the Department of Human Services is involved in your case, you must mail or hand-deliver a copy of your Motion to them. Fill out the Certificate of Service part of JDF 1408 Motion to Terminate Child Support before filing your Motion with the court, indicating that you sent the Department of Human Services a copy.

Complete only the top ("caption") part of JDF 1409 Order to Terminate Child Support to create a new Order for the court to sign.

How to File on Your Own

If you decide to file the paperwork on your own, follow the steps below to file a Motion.

Forms and Paperwork Required

Use the forms link above to download and fill out JDF 1408 Motion to Terminate Child Support and JDF 1409 Order to Terminate Child Support. For detailed instructions on how to complete these forms, review JDF 1426 Instructions to File a Motion to Terminate Child Support.

You may have to complete other paperwork if you have more than one child, and you are ending child support on only one of your children. Additional paperwork may include JDF 1403 Motion to Modify Child Support. You may also need to determine what the new child support amount is for your other child using the child support calculator.

Paperwork Tips

Use the case number from your original case where child support was ordered.

You and the other parent will have the same identities to the court as you did in the original case. For example, if you were the Petitioner in the original case, you will be the Petitioner for this Motion.

You will sign JDF 1408 Motion to Terminate Child Support. The other parent does not need to sign.

Mail or hand-deliver a copy of JDF 1408 Motion to Terminate Child Support to the other parent, and to the Department of Human Services if they are involved in your case.

After you mail or hand-deliver a copy of JDF 1408 Motion to Terminate Child Support to the other parent (and to the Department of Human Services if they are involved in your case), fill out the Certificate of Service part of the Motion before filing it with the court.

Complete only the top ("caption") part of JDF 1409 Order to Terminate Child Support to create a new Order for the court to sign.

How to Submit Paperwork to the Court

1. File with the same court that gave you the original child support order. Use the courts locator to find the correct court location. You must file the original paper versions of your completed forms by giving them to the court in person or by mailing them to the court.
2. Pay the filing fee. If you do not think you can afford the filing fee, fill out form JDF 205 Motion to File Without Payment and Supporting Financial Affidavit and JDF 206 Finding and Order Concerning Payment of Fees to request a waiver of the filing fee, or visit our File Without Payment section for complete information.

What Happens Next?

Wait for the court's response to your Motion. You may be required to attend mediation and/or a hearing may be held.