In the past, Florida did not use end dates for child support payments. When a couple got divorced, the court would draft an order instructing one person to pay support. But if the parents wanted to end those payments, they had to return to court and get another order.
This does not happen today. The laws have been overhauled and, like many other states, support orders issued in Florida now do have an end date. They do not last indefinitely, except in rare cases – such as if a child has special needs and will never be able to care for themselves or provide their own support. So when does the average support order end?
Graduation or the 18th birthday
To start with, the law specifies that a child’s 18th birthday should end child support payments. They are officially an adult at this point.
That being said, some students do not graduate from high school at 18. They may not graduate until they turn 19, or sometime during their 18th year. For example, a student may turn 18 in September and then be 18 for the majority of their senior year, not graduating until the following May.
In situations like this, support usually lasts until graduation. In fact, that student’s graduation day may be the last official day that any support payments need to be made.
Either way, support certainly terminates once the child turns 19 years old. Even if they’re still in school, there’s no more obligation to pay.
A changing legal process
This demonstrates how divorce laws can change significantly over time. If you are a parent who is going through a divorce or considering a child support order, make sure you know about these changes and your legal options.