Quick answer: When does child support end in New York? At 21. The parents of a child under 21 are chargeable with the child’s support, so support does not end at 18, unless the child is emancipated earlier. Past-due support stays owed.
This New York child support end date calculator finds the 21st birthday under Family Court Act 413 and shows the 18th birthday for reference. Check the balance in the New York child support arrears calculator.
When does child support end in New York? At a glance
| Rule | What New York says |
|---|---|
| Basic rule | The parents of a child under 21 are chargeable with the child’s support (Family Court Act 413(1)) |
| Definition | Child support is a sum for the care, maintenance and education of any unemancipated child under 21 (413(1)(b)(2)) |
| Paternity cases | The paternity support order runs until the child is 21 (FCA 545) |
| Emancipation | The statute covers an unemancipated child; the court decides whether a child is emancipated |
| Disabled adult child | We found no provision in the sections we read |
| Past-due support | Stays owed; a modification cannot reduce arrears accrued before the application (451(1)) |
How does the New York end date work?
- Age 21 and emancipation. See the New York child support age limit and emancipation.
- College and disabled adult children. See child support for college and disabled children in New York.
- Ending the order. See emancipation and whether child support ends automatically in New York.
Why does New York use 21 and what does the formula assume?
New York’s Child Support Standards Act charges the parents of a child under 21 and sets support as a percentage of combined parental income: 17% for one child, 25% for two, 29% for three, 31% for four and no less than 35% for five or more, with a self-support reserve for low-income payers (Family Court Act 413(1)(b)). The paternity support section also runs to 21 (Family Court Act 545). That is why the date below is the 21st birthday and not the 18th.
What does this end date calculator check?
You enter the child’s birth date and the calculator returns the 21st birthday and the time left from today, shows the 18th birthday for reference (support does not end there) and notes the effect of an emancipating event. It cannot read your order: if it says otherwise, it controls. To change the amount before it ends, see the New York child support modification calculator.
Frequently asked questions
At what age does child support end in New York?
At 21, unless the child is emancipated earlier.
Does New York child support stop at 18?
No. The parents of a child under 21 are chargeable with the child's support.
Does New York child support cover college?
Support runs to 21, which covers the usual college years; we found no court-ordered rule for support past 21 in the sections we read.
Can New York child support continue for a disabled adult child?
We found no provision in the sections we read; ask a licensed New York attorney.
Does New York child support end automatically?
Not by itself in practice: ask the court or the Support Collection Unit to end withholding and keep proof of the date.