Family · Child Support
When Does Child Support End in Texas?
The age ordinary child support ends in Texas, whether a court can order a parent to help pay for college, the disability track, and how support can end early. Cited to the statute.
How child support ends in Texas
The end age, the college question, the disability track, and how support can end early.
| How it works | What it means |
|---|---|
| The later of 18 or graduation | The duty runs until the child is 18 or graduates from high school, whichever occurs later, under §154.001, or until earlier emancipation. |
| Must stay enrolled | To extend past 18, the child must be enrolled in an accredited secondary school in a diploma program and complying with minimum attendance requirements (§154.002). |
| Disabled child can be indefinite | A court may order support for an adult child with a disability that existed before 18 and prevents self-support (§154.302). This can continue indefinitely and may be paid to a special-needs trust. |
| College and early end | What it means |
|---|---|
| No court-ordered college | Texas does not let a court order a parent to pay college costs. The duty ends at 18 or high-school graduation. Parents may agree to share college expenses, and the agreement can be enforceable. |
| Early emancipation | Marriage, a court order removing the disabilities of minority, or other operation of law ends support early. |
What you can do right now
Concrete, neutral steps around ending or extending child support in Texas. This is legal information, not legal advice.
- Count to the later of 18 or graduation
Support continues until the child turns 18 or finishes high school, whichever is later, as long as the child stays enrolled and meets attendance rules.
- Do not expect court-ordered college support
A Texas court cannot order college contributions. Put any college arrangement in a written agreement instead.
- Address a disabled adult child separately
If the disability began before 18 and prevents self-support, a court can order support that continues indefinitely under §154.302.
- Talk to a Texas family attorney
Termination timing and disability support turn on your facts. A licensed Texas attorney can confirm your situation. The State Bar can refer you to one.
When support ends, and whether college can be ordered, turn on your order and your facts. This resource can connect you with a court self-help center or a licensed family attorney.
→ State Bar of Texas — Lawyer ReferralThis is general legal information, not legal advice. Enrollment, emancipation, disability, and college conditions can change the answer, so confirm your situation with a court resource or a licensed attorney.
What people get wrong about child support ending in Texas
Texas ends child support at the later of the child’s 18th birthday or high-school graduation, which means a child who turns 18 mid-senior-year keeps support until they finish school. To get the extension the child must stay enrolled in an accredited diploma program and meet attendance requirements, under Family Code §154.001 and §154.002. Note the direction: Texas uses "whichever is later," while California and Florida cap the high-school extension at age 19, so do not mix the two. On the question people search most, college, Texas is a firm no: a court cannot order a parent to pay college costs, and support ends at 18 or graduation regardless of college plans. Parents can agree to share college expenses in a settlement, and that agreement can be enforced, but no judge can impose it. The one open-ended exception is a disabled adult child: if the disability began before 18 and prevents self-support, a court may order support that continues indefinitely under §154.302, sometimes through a special-needs trust.
Common questions
At what age does child support end in Texas?
At 18 or high-school graduation, whichever is later, under Family Code §154.001, as long as the child stays enrolled and meets attendance rules.
Can a Texas court order a parent to pay for college?
No. Texas does not authorize court-ordered college support. The duty ends at 18 or graduation. Parents can agree to share college costs, and the agreement can be enforceable, but a court cannot impose it.
Does Texas child support end at 18 or graduation?
The later of the two. A child who is still in high school at 18 keeps support until graduation, provided they stay enrolled and meet attendance requirements.
Can Texas child support continue for a disabled adult child?
Yes. Under §154.302, a court may order support for an adult child whose disability began before 18 and prevents self-support, and it can continue indefinitely.
Not legal advicePlainStatute provides plain-language summaries of public law for general information only. This is not legal advice. Statutes change; always confirm current requirements with the official source linked above before acting.