When Do Child Support Payments Stop?

 Posted on February 10, 2026 in Child Support

If you are paying or receiving child support, you might wonder when these payments will end. Some assume that child support payments end when a child becomes a legal adult on his or her 18th birthday. However, this is not always the case. There are several situations where a parent might be required to keep making non-minor support payments even after the child turns 18.

If you need to establish child support payments or have questions about when these payments might stop, or if you have an ongoing child custody case, a Will County, IL child support attorney at The Law Office of Ronald L. Hendrix, P.C. can help. Attorney Ronald Hendrix is a court-appointed mediator and experienced family law attorney, giving him clear insights into how to resolve child-related issues.

When Support is Still Owed After a Child Turns 18 Years Old 

The reality is that most 18-year-olds are not able to financially support themselves. Support payments might continue after a child’s 18th birthday in a variety of situations.

Mutual Agreement

Parents can decide in their divorce or child custody agreements that the parent paying child support will keep making payments after the child turns 18 years old. Some divorce or child custody agreements address how the parents will handle college expenses like tuition or room and board.

The Child Is Still in High School 

It is unrealistic to expect a high school student to suddenly begin supporting himself or herself at the age of 18, at least without dropping out of school to find full-time employment. In the interest of allowing teenagers to graduate from high school, a parent can be ordered to keep making payments until his or her child finishes high school or turns 19 years old, whichever comes first.

Past-Due Support Is Still Owed  

A parent who is in arrears on child support must pay the full amount he or she owes, even if the child in question has come of age. Otherwise, a parent who owes child support could simply refuse to pay, knowing that the debt will be cleared as soon as the child turns 18 years old.

Are Parents Required to Make College Support Payments in Illinois?

In Illinois, parents are not automatically required to pay for higher education. College support is a separate issue from regular child support. A parent usually has to ask the court for help, and the court decides what is fair in that family’s situation (750 ILCS 5/513).

The judge can order help with school costs after high school. That can include college, trade school, or other career training. The court can also order parents and the child to fill out the FAFSA and other financial aid forms. In some cases, the court can even order money for a limited number of college applications and entrance exams.

Illinois law also sets limits. Unless there is a strong reason, the court will not order tuition and fees above the in-state rate at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for that year. Housing has a similar cap tied to the cost of a standard double room and meal plan at the same school. The court can also consider grades. If a student does not keep a "C" average, support can be changed or ended, unless there is good cause, like illness.

Are Disabled Adult Children Owed Non-Minor Support in 2026?

Illinois courts can order support for an adult child who has a qualifying disability, even after the child reaches adulthood. This is often called "non-minor support" for a disabled adult child. It is not meant to punish either parent. It is meant to help cover real needs when the adult child cannot live independently or be fully self-supporting.

The key questions are focused on practicality. Does the adult child have a mental or physical condition that seriously limits daily life? Does the disability keep the child from being fully emancipated in a real-world way? The court also looks at money. That includes each parent’s ability to pay, the child’s own resources, and benefits like SSI or other public programs.

Families often worry about how support payments could affect benefits. Courts can sometimes direct support in a way that protects the adult child, such as paying a parent who provides care, or using a trust arrangement when appropriate. The right setup depends on the child’s diagnosis, living situation, services, and benefit eligibility.

If a child has special needs and will likely need support long-term, it can help to address this before the case is "finished," rather than waiting until a crisis hits.

Collecting Unpaid Child Support Arrears

Unpaid child support does not disappear when a child turns 18. Past-due support is still owed. That includes arrears from minor child support and, in many cases, unpaid amounts tied to non-minor support orders.

One common method to recover unpaid support is income withholding. If the paying parent has a job, support can be taken from wages and sent through the proper payment system. State and federal offsets may also apply in some cases, including intercepting certain tax refunds and other qualifying payments. Illinois can also use license-related pressure in serious delinquency situations, which can motivate payment quickly.

If the paying parent is hiding income, working under the table, or refusing to follow the order, the court can step in. A judge can hold a parent in contempt for willfully not paying. The court can also enter judgments for the unpaid amount, which may allow stronger collection options.

Arrears cases usually go better when you gather documents first. Some of these documents may include the court order, the payment printout, and proof of missed payments. Clear records can portray a narrative grounded in fact, making it easier to argue your case.

Contact a Naperville, IL Child Support Lawyer

The Law Office of Ronald L. Hendrix, P.C. is committed to helping parents who owe or are entitled to collect child support. Our team of Will County, IL, child support attorneys will do all we can to ensure that your child receives a fair and reasonable amount of support from both parents. Contact us at 630-355-7776 for a complimentary consultation.