Quick answer: When does child support end in Texas? A court may order support until the child is 18 or graduates from high school, whichever is later, and past 18 only while the child is enrolled and meeting attendance rules. It ends on marriage, death or enlistment, and can be indefinite for a disabled child.
This Texas child support end date calculator finds the later of the 18th birthday and the end of your expected graduation month under Tex. Fam. Code 154.001. Past-due support stays owed, so check the balance in the Texas child support arrears calculator.
When does child support end in Texas? At a glance
| Rule | What Texas says |
|---|---|
| Basic rule | The court may order support until the child is 18 or graduates from high school, whichever is later (Tex. Fam. Code 154.001(a)(1)) |
| Past 18 | Only if the child is enrolled in an accredited secondary school program toward a diploma (or joint high school and junior college courses, or full-time in a private secondary school) and meets attendance rules (154.002(a)) |
| Through the graduation month | The order may provide that payments continue through the end of the month in which the child graduates (154.002(c)) |
| Termination events | Marriage, removal of disabilities, death, a finding that a child 18 or older failed the attendance rules, or enlistment (154.006(a)) |
| Disabled child | The court may order support indefinitely for a child who needs substantial care and cannot support himself or herself, if the disability existed on or before 18 (154.302) |
| Arrears | Enforceable after support ends; money judgment motion within ten years (157.005) |
How does the Texas end date work?
- Age 18 and graduation. See the Texas child support age limit and high school graduation.
- College and disabled adult children. See child support for college and disabled children in Texas.
- Emancipation and ending the order. See emancipation and whether child support ends automatically in Texas.
What does this end date calculator check?
You enter the child’s birth date and, if the child will still be in high school after 18, the expected graduation month. The calculator returns the later of the two dates and the time left from today. It cannot read your order: if it says otherwise, it controls. To change the amount before it ends, see the Texas child support modification calculator.
Frequently asked questions
At what age does child support end in Texas?
At 18 or high school graduation, whichever is later, if the order is written that way.
Does Texas child support continue through high school?
Yes, past 18 only if the child is enrolled in a qualifying secondary school program and meets attendance rules.
Does Texas child support cover college?
We found no court-ordered college support in the sections we read.
Can Texas child support continue for a disabled adult child?
Yes, indefinitely, if the child requires substantial care and cannot support himself or herself and the disability existed on or before 18.
Does Texas child support end automatically?
The statute lists events that end it unless the order says otherwise, but withholding and arrears need a court or agency step.