Many divorced spouses in South Carolina pay or receive child support to help financially build their child’s future, helping give them more stability in childhood. While this process is a beneficial protection for the child’s well-being, many confusions and complications can impact the choices made by parents. The politics and conflicts that may surround issues of child support can be challenging to navigate, particularly when a child’s future and financial support are in the picture.
For example, many parents may wonder: when does child support end? The length of child support in South Carolina could impact the paying parent’s finances, and reliance on payment from the custodial parent could inform their decisions. Understanding when child support ends and what South Carolina laws may impact those timetables could help parents paying or receiving child support make informed decisions about their finances.
For those wondering when child support ends in South Carolina, a skilled child support lawyer from King Law Offices may be able to provide an answer. Schedule a consultation today by calling today at (888) 748-KING for more details.
Understanding the Purpose of Child Support
Family courts across the United States are designed to advocate for the best interests of the children in every situation. Generally, minor children are unable to effectively advocate for themselves and their own needs, so the court system prioritizes their well-being to ensure their developmental needs are met. This means that child support payments are not designed for the enrichment or punishment of either parent but for the support and livelihood of the child or children involved.
Understanding this may impact how one approaches the question, “When does child support end in South Carolina?” Knowing this, one can infer that child support may end when the child no longer benefits from this payment, no longer lives in the obligation of parental support, or is otherwise self-sustaining. According to S.C. Code § 63-17-325, the father of a child bears an obligation to pay child support from the moment of conception.
Does Child Support Stop Automatically?
In most cases, this means that child support automatically ends when the child finishes high school and turns eighteen years old. This being the legal age of adulthood, it is also often the time when children become more independent, begin pursuing higher education or the workforce, and rely less on the provision of parents. Therefore, this is most often when child support ends in South Carolina.
However, several exceptions may affect when child support ends, due to the nature of the parental relationship and the needs of the child. One of the most common exceptions is when the child does not finish high school at age eighteen. Start dates for children are often impacted by birthdays, which can lead to children turning nineteen before they graduate. In these cases, child support may not end until the child has graduated high school and turned nineteen.
Additional factors that may extend child support payments are college and disability, though these factors may depend on certain agreements or the decisions of the court. Children with disabilities may require more intensive or long-term care depending on their physical, mental, or other disabilities. This increased level of need may lead to extended child support. College, in a similar way, may extend child support payments if the child still requires parental support to pursue higher education.
When does child support end in South Carolina? The answer may vary. Speak with a skilled child support attorney from King Law Offices for more details.
Other Factors That May End Child Support
However, some factors or changes could end child support payments early. Generally, these changes will involve the child no longer requiring parental support from either parents or entering a stage of life where parental support is no longer expected. Understanding when these factors may come into play and how they could impact child support payments could help parents be aware of when child support might end.
Marriage
According to S.C. Code § 20-1-100, a child sixteen or older can obtain a marriage license, though this may require the consent of a parent or guardian. At this time, the married individual no longer obligates the parents to provide for them financially, as they are now in an independent household of their own. Generally, child support payments will end when a child is married before they are eighteen.
Emancipation
Emancipation is the determination that a minor can support themselves financially without parental oversight or support, which is often called the age of majority. This may occur when a child moves out of the house, gets married, or otherwise proves themselves financially independent. An emancipated minor may not require child support, and the paying parent may need to file a termination action with the local family court.
Military Service
A minor can join the military at the age of seventeen with the consent of a parent, which may also impact when child support ends in South Carolina. However, the minor may have to meet certain educational requirements to comply with military regulations. If the minor in question enlists in the military, the paying parent may not be required to pay child support any longer.
Legal Agreements
Other factors that may impact the question, “When does child support end in South Carolina?” are legal contracts such as marriage settlements, prenuptial agreements, or postnuptial agreements. Agreements made in a binding contract may supersede the judgment of a court in some cases. Therefore, these contracts could drastically change when child support ends in South Carolina.
Modifying Child Support Orders
While many of these factors are influenced by the choices of the minor and other factors outside of the parents’ control, this does not mean they are the only way to change child support orders. If one parent feels that the child support order is no longer fair or sufficient, they may petition to modify the child support order. These modifications, based on the decisions of the court, may also shift how much is paid and for how long depending on certain factors.
Contact a Skilled South Carolina Child Support Attorney
When does child support end in South Carolina? This question may have an impact on both paying and receiving parents, and the answer could range from sixteen years to eighteen, and much longer in certain extreme circumstances. Child support in South Carolina can be complex and challenging. However, a skilled South Carolina child support lawyer from King Law Offices may be able to evaluate a case and provide informed advice. Schedule a consultation today by calling (888) 748-KING for more.