The Texas rule is simple to state: child support continues until the child turns 18 or graduates from high school, whichever happens later (Family Code §§154.001–154.002). The details — a disabled-child exception, a short list of early-ending events, and one expensive trap about withholding — are what trip people up.
The general rule: 18 or graduation, whichever is later
If a child turns 18 before finishing high school, support doesn't stop on the birthday. As long as the child is enrolled and meeting attendance requirements, the order can continue through the end of the month the child graduates. Conversely, a child who graduates at 17 generally still has support continue until 18.
Two quick scenarios show how the "whichever is later" language works in practice:
- Turns 18 in March of senior year, graduates in May → support runs past the birthday and through the end of the graduation month, because graduation is the later event.
- Graduates at 17, turns 18 the following February → support generally continues until the 18th birthday, because turning 18 is the later event.
The exact end date in your case is whatever your order says — most track the statute, but orders can differ, so read the termination language before assuming a date.
Events that can end support earlier
- Marriage of the child;
- Emancipation — a court removes the disabilities of minority;
- Death of the child;
- Other operation of law in specific circumstances.
These events cut the obligation off even if the child is under 18 and still in school. They end future support only — as with aging out, they don't touch anything already owed.
The exception: a child with a disability
This is the one situation where Texas support has no built-in end date. The timing element matters: the disability must have existed on or before the 18th birthday, though the request for adult support can be addressed in the original order or raised later. Families in this situation should plan for support as a long-term arrangement rather than something that sunsets with high school.
College is not included
Texas courts cannot order a parent to pay for college absent an agreement. This surprises parents coming from states that extend support through university — in Texas, the guideline obligation ends at 18-or-graduation, full stop. Parents are free to agree to fund college and can build that promise into their paperwork, but a judge can't impose it on an unwilling parent. If tuition help matters to you, it has to be negotiated, not litigated.
The trap: it does not stop automatically
This is the single most important thing to know. When a child ages out, wage withholding does not switch off by itself. The employer keeps deducting per the withholding order it has on file until it receives proper instructions through official channels — which generally means the paying parent obtaining an order terminating withholding, or contacting the Office of the Attorney General to update the case. Simply telling the employer "my kid graduated" isn't how the system works, and quietly stopping payments on your own reading of the calendar risks a dispute over the final months.
The mirror-image mistake exists too: if money keeps flowing after the obligation legally ended, recovering the overpayment is a genuine hassle. Start the paperwork before the expected end date, not after.
Arrears survive the end date
Reaching the end date ends future support, but it does not erase past-due arrears. Any unpaid balance — plus interest — remains collectible until paid, with the full enforcement toolkit (withholding, tax-refund interception, liens, license suspension) still available against the old debt. A child's 18th birthday changes nothing about money already owed — the unpaid-support guide explains why that debt is effectively permanent.
Younger children: the order steps down, not off
When support covers several children, the obligation doesn't vanish when the oldest ages out — it recalculates. Orders typically step down according to their own terms: a two-child order at 25% of net resources generally drops to the one-child 20% figure when the older child's support ends. Using the income chart, a parent with $4,199 in monthly net resources would go from about $1,050 for two children to about $840 for one. Check what your order actually says, though — if it doesn't spell out the step-down, a modification is the clean way to reset the number, and the two-children guide walks through the percentages.
A short checklist for the final year
- Reread the order's termination language. Confirm whether it ends at 18, graduation, or "whichever is later," and whether it spells out a step-down for younger children.
- Confirm the graduation date — it, not the birthday, often sets the actual last month of support.
- Start the termination paperwork early. Contact the OAG or the court before the end date so withholding stops on time rather than months late.
- Settle any arrears. The balance won't expire with the order — it keeps accruing interest until paid.
- For a child with a disability, raise §154.302 support before the 18th birthday passes.
Frequently asked questions
What if my child turns 18 during the school year?
Support keeps going. As long as the child is enrolled in high school and meeting attendance requirements, the obligation runs through the end of the month of graduation — the later of the two milestones controls.
Does Texas child support cover college?
No. A Texas court cannot order college support absent an agreement between the parents. Voluntary agreements are enforceable if properly documented, but the default obligation ends at 18 or graduation, whichever is later.
Does support end if my child gets married?
Yes. Marriage, emancipation, or the child's death ends the obligation early — even before 18. Anything already unpaid at that point still remains owed.
How do I actually stop the withholding?
Through official channels: an order terminating withholding, or the OAG updating the case so the employer receives proper notice. Don't just stop paying or ask the employer informally — the withholding order stays in force until it's formally ended, and self-help creates disputes.
Does support for my younger children drop when the oldest ages out?
Generally yes — orders typically step down to the guideline percentage for the remaining children per their own terms. If your order doesn't address it, file to modify rather than adjusting the payment yourself.
Do unpaid arrears go away when support ends?
No. Arrears and accrued interest survive termination indefinitely and remain fully collectible — enforcement doesn't retire just because the child grew up.