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Can child support continue for adult children?

On Behalf of | Dec 30, 2022 | DIVORCE - Divorce

It is natural to worry about the future of your child during divorce. This is why the state of New Jersey provides for child support payments to custodial parents. You might wonder if you can receive support even if your child becomes an adult.

According to the New Jersey courts website, child support ends without a court hearing if a child benefiting from the support reaches the age of 19, gets married or joins the military. There are some exceptions that can allow support to last a little longer, though.

Educational requirements

If your child has not turned 23 years old, the state may permit your ex to keep paying child support if your son or daughter has a full-time enrollment in an educational institution. Examples include attendance in a high school, a college, graduate school or a vocational school.

Disabilities

It is possible your child cannot become self-sufficient because of a disability. Any number of physical or mental conditions can cause someone to depend on other people for financial and material support. If this is the case for your child, the state could permit support to continue until your child turns 23.

If you still need help past this age, you might consider a different kind of court-ordered support for your situation. By this point, the Probation Child Support Enforcement Unit can no longer enforce additional support.

Other reasons to continue support

A court could still allow continuance of support for a different reason if it is important enough. Alternatively, if you and your ex have an amicable relationship, the two of you may come to an arrangement to keep the support going. Given the options available, you might find ways to help your child into his or her adult years.