If you’re paying child support in Texas, you might be wondering how long you must keep making payments. After all, the point of child support is to help the other parent with the costs of raising children, and those costs do eventually fade away as the children become adults.
So at what age does child support end in Texas, and how do you stop paying once you’re no longer required to pay? Take a look at how the process works in Texas, and then contact the Moffett Law Firm for help with your case from experienced child support attorneys in Houston.
When Does Child Support End in Texas?
In general, child support is no longer needed once a child reaches adulthood and is therefore no longer considered a child. So, does child support end at 18 in Texas? The simple answer is yes. However, there are exceptions to this rule.
For example, if your child is disabled and therefore still a dependent after the age of 18, you will likely have to pay child support indefinitely. This will depend on the child’s future financial needs and the amount of help he or she will need from a caretaker. On the other hand, sometimes child support may end before the child turns 18, such as when he or she is emancipated and therefore granted adulthood by going to court, joining the military or getting married at age 16 or 17. So while child support typically ends at 18 in Texas, it does not automatically do so in every case. at 18 in Texas?
How to Stop Child Support Payments in Texas
If you believe you meet the criteria to stop your child support payments, you should contact the Domestic Relations Office (DRO) at your local family court. Make sure you do so at least 45 days before you plan to make your last payment.
Once you contact the DRO, that department will let child support enforcement officials know the plan, and they will review the details of your case. They will then tell your child’s other parent that you won’t be paying child support anymore, and he or she will have 15 days to object to this decision. Note that if you owe back pay for child support, you will need to continue to pay until that debt has been satisfied.
It’s important to talk to child support attorneys in Houston, such as the team at the Moffett Law Firm, before you try to determine how to stop child support payments.
Income Withholding vs. Direct Payments
Now that you have some idea on how to stop child support payments, you need to make sure anyone else involved in the process is also aware. For instance, if your employer has been automatically deducting your child support payments from your paychecks, the DRO will need to let your employer know to stop withholding that money.
If you usually make your payments to your child’s other parent via check or through a specific account, the DRO will arrange to close the account if necessary. Of course, these actions may be delayed if your child’s other parent objects to the decision to end your child support payments.
If you need more information on how to stop child support payments in Texas, contact the Moffett Law Firm for a consultation. Our team of Houston divorce lawyers will answer any questions you have and help you get started with the process of ending your child support payments in Texas.
