Child maintenance is an important aspect of a parent’s primary responsibility to ensure the financial stability of children after separation or divorce. If any parents are separated or divorced from their children, then there is always a question in their mind till what age should they pay the child maintenance fee for the maintenance of the children?
The answer to this question is not always straightforward, as it depends on various factors such as country laws, individual circumstances, and sometimes agreement between parents. Let’s take a deeper look at when child support payments typically stop.
Factors Determining the End of Child Maintenance
- Cessation of child maintenance payments depends on a variety of factors, primarily revolving around the child’s circumstances and sometimes the agreement between the parents.
- In terms of the new Children’s Act, maintenance is payable until the age of 16 years (or under 20 if they are still in full-time education). Before the new Children Act 1989 came into effect, maintenance was payable by the parent in respect of the minor child until the minor child was 21 years of age or self-supporting, whichever event should occur first.
- If the child pursues higher education or vocational training beyond 16, maintenance payments might continue until they finish their studies or reach a specified age, often around 20.
- Children with special needs or disabilities might require ongoing support well into adulthood, extending the responsibility for maintenance payments for an indefinite period.
How long do I have to pay child maintenance for?
Child support payments generally stop when the child reaches the age of 16. However, if the child is in full-time approved education, this can stop until they reach the age of 20. Other factors may also affect when child maintenance payments stop, including if a parent dies or if the parent receiving child maintenance payments stops being the primary caregiver.
Or if there is a change in the financial circumstances of the paying parent. If child custody arrangements change, or you are making payments and your finances change, a child maintenance lawyer, or team of law experts, will be able to advise accordingly. Check our previously published article on how to log in Child Maintenance Account?
Let us take an example and understand for how long will child maintenance have to be paid?
Recently there was a case where a woman had two children from her husband. This couple had separated from each other. The age of both the children was 16 and 19 years. The 19-year-old was a student at a college in East Lothian and was unemployed. His mother earned a total of £7000 per month and his father earned a total of £18000 per month.
Before the woman could consult any advisor, she took the child’s father to maintenance court, requesting that he pay maintenance for the 19-year-old boy, who was still a student. The court rightly rejected the application because once a child turns 18, they must apply to the court for maintenance, and one of their parents is on their side. Cannot do this against the other parent. Check our previously published article If I Pay Child Maintenance Should I Pay for Anything Else?
Frequently Asked Questions & Answers
Depending on the jurisdiction, child maintenance might continue until the child completes their education or reaches a certain academic milestone.
Yes, circumstances such as changes in financial status or the child’s needs can warrant alterations. Legal counsel should be sought for modifications.
In most cases, yes, until the child reaches the legal age limit or completes their education, maintenance payments may still be required.
You may still have to pay child support even after the child turns 18. The parent paying child support will generally be expected to continue paying child support until the child turns 16 or turns 20 if they are approved Are full-time, non-advanced education or training.
Normally 16 years. You need to have child maintenance arrangements for children under 16 (or under 20 if they’re in approved education or training).
