Does obligated parent continue paying child support after child reaches age of 18 in the state of Missouri?

Answer 1

It all depends. If a child reaches the age of 18 but enrolls in a higher education program or vocational school by Oct 1 after graduation of high school and attends at least 12 credit hours per semester then the answer is no. Child support continues until the age of 21.

If the child dies, marries, is self supporting and has been released from parental control by the parent who has custody, joins the military, fails to enroll in a higher education program and/or doesn't maintain passing grades in order to complete the caseload then child support should be terminated. One has to petition the courts in order for that to happen. Forms can be found at the site in the Related Links. It is always best to obtain an attorney to protect your rights and advise you on how to proceed.

Also be very leary of Missouri Child Support enforcement. Keep your own payment records and copies to prove how much you have paid and when because MCSE has a long and strong history of taking more money than they should, sloppy record keeping, and not terminating the child support order when it should have been terminated. They also have a habit of saying the absent parent owes more arrearages than they actually do and keep on taking it long after it has been paid. It is up to you to prove they are wrong so keep all records of payments, payment amounts, dates payments were made etc. and the totals and proof of how much they claimed you owed. It can take years to get it to stop even though it has all been paid. The person responsible for paying back the money that was over paid is the person receiving the child support money. In other words, you'll never get a penny of it back. We are out $9000. Please get an attorney because they will and do steal you blind.

Answer 2

According to the law, child support ends in Missouri when the child finishes high school or turns age 21 whichever is first. The education referred to in the statute is high school not college.

Answer 3

When a child reaches age eighteen, if the child is enrolled in and attending a secondary school program of instruction, the parental support obligation shall continue, if the child continues to attend and progresses toward completion of said program, until the child completes such program or reaches age 21, whichever first occurs. If the child is enrolled in an institution of vocational or higher education not later than October first following graduation from a secondary school or completion of a graduation equivalence degree program and so long as the child enrolls for and completes at least 12 hours of credit each semester, not including the summer semester, at an institution of vocational or higher education and achieves grades sufficient to reenroll at such institution, the parental support obligation shall continue until the child completes his or her education, or until the child reaches the age of 22, whichever first occurs.

To remain eligible for such continued parental support, at the beginning of each semester the child shall submit to each parent a transcript or similar official document provided by the institution of vocational or higher education which includes the courses the child is enrolled in and has completed for each term, the grades and credits received for each such course, and an official document from the institution listing the courses which the child is enrolled in for the upcoming term and the number of credits for each such course.

If the circumstances of the child manifestly dictate, the court may waive the October first deadline for enrollment required by this subsection. If the child has pursued a path of continuous attendance and has demonstrated evidence of a plan to continue to do so, the court may enter a judgment abating support for a period of up to five months for any semester in which the child completes at least six but less than twelve credit hours; however, such five-month period of abatement shall only be granted one time for each child. If the child is enrolled in such an institution, the child or parent obligated to pay support may petition the court to amend the order to direct the obligated parent to make the payments directly to the child.

As used in this section, an "institution of vocational education" means any postsecondary training or schooling for which the student is assessed a fee and attends classes regularly. "Higher education" means any junior college, community college, college, or university at which the child attends classes regularly. A child who has been diagnosed with a learning disability, or whose physical disability or diagnosed health problem limits the child's ability to carry the number of credit hours prescribed in this subsection, shall remain eligible for child support so long as such child is enrolled in and attending an institution of vocational or higher education, and the child continues to meet the other requirements of this subsection. A child who is employed at least 15 hours per week during the semester may take as few as nine credit hours per semester and remain eligible for child support so long as all other requirements of this subsection are complied with.

-From Section 452.340 of the Missouri Revised Statutes.

Answer 4

Regardless of the age of the child, application can be made with Missouri child support enforcement to discontinue the obligation after the child has resided with the obligor parent for 30 days. If the child is not attending college, the obligation does end with graduation from high school. However, if the child is attending college, an application should be made to change the obligation to the other parent, until the child reaches age 22.

Answer 5

The age of majority for Missouri is 18, therefore the non custodial parent is relieved of support obligations unless the support order states otherwise.

The best option is to contact the attorney who handled the support case or the state's child support enforcement agency.

Answer 6

The termination of child support depends upon what the current court order stipulates. Unless the support order designates otherwise, child support obligations end when the child reaches the age of majority. The age of majority for Missouri is 18.

Answer 7

It should.

http://www.Arkansas.gov/dfa/child_support/ocse_faqs.html#paycs

Answer 8

Depends on whether the child goes to college.

Answer 9

Child support is paid until the child(ren) is 18 yrs of age. However, if the child(ren) is attending college is extended until the age of 21 and, in some states until graduation.