Full question:
If Tennessee divorce decree states that "child support shall terminate when the minor child of the parties reaches the age of majority or otherwise becomes emancipated, or unless otherwise ordered by the court", and the child turns 18 in February but is still a senior in high school, can child support legally stop being paid in February, or can child support be ordered to continue until the end of high school or until the end of college? No past child support is due, all payments are made on time.
- Category: Divorce
- Subcategory: Child Support
- Date:
- State: National
Answer:
In Tennessee, child support typically ends when the child turns eighteen, reaches the age of majority, or becomes emancipated, unless the court orders otherwise. Therefore, if the child turns eighteen in February, support can legally stop at that time, even if they are still in high school. Tennessee law does not require parents to pay for college expenses (Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-5-101).This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.