How and When Child Support Ends in Texas—And What Complications Can Arise

If your child is graduating high school or turning 18, you may assume that your obligation to pay child support is automatically over. In many cases, that’s true—but not always. In fact, several factors under Texas law can extend or complicate the end of child support, and if you don’t take the right legal steps, support may continue being withheld from your paycheck, even when it shouldn’t be.

This article explores some of the most common issues that can arise when trying to end child support in Texas and why it’s important to understand the law before assuming your obligation is complete.

1. When Does Child Support Legally End in Texas?
The Texas Family Code (the collection of laws that governs family matters in the state) generally says that child support ends when the child turns 18 or graduates from high school—whichever happens later.
However, support can end earlier in situations where:

• The child passes away;
• The child gets married or legally emancipated; or
• The child is adopted by someone else.

But even when one of these events occurs, child support doesn’t stop by itself. The law requires official action to update the system, particularly if payments are being automatically deducted from your wages.

2. Wage Withholding: Why Support Might Keep Coming Out of Your Paycheck
Most child support orders in Texas include something called a wage withholding order, which tells your employer to take the money directly out of your paycheck and send it to the state disbursement unit. This helps ensure timely and consistent payments.
The problem? These orders do not cancel automatically when your child becomes an adult. They remain in force until someone goes back to court—or the Office of the Attorney General—to formally request that the withholding be stopped.
Failing to take this step can result in your employer continuing to deduct support, and once that money is paid out, it can be very difficult to get back—even if it was paid in error.

3. Life Insurance Requirements for Support
Some divorce or custody orders require a parent paying support to also maintain a life insurance policy with the child named as the beneficiary. The purpose is to make sure the child is financially protected if the paying parent dies before the obligation ends.
If your order includes this requirement, simply reaching the end of child support might not release you from the obligation to keep that insurance policy. Some orders specify that the policy must remain in effect until the child reaches a certain age—or in some cases, even longer.
Make sure to review the language in your original court order carefully. Ending the policy too soon could be considered a violation of the court’s orders.

4. Support for Adult Children With Disabilities
One major exception to the typical end of child support involves children who have a permanent disability. If your child is unable to support themselves due to a mental or physical condition that began before they turned 18, the court can order support to continue indefinitely—even into adulthood.  This type of support doesn’t stop automatically. In fact, the law allows the court to require continued payments to whichever parent or caregiver is providing for the adult child’s ongoing needs.
If the child's condition improves and they are later able to support themselves, the paying parent may be able to go back to court and request a change—but again, it requires official action.

5. Why Legal Help is Often Necessary
Even if your situation seems straightforward, ending child support can involve more legal red tape than you might expect. Mistakes or assumptions—like thinking support stops automatically at 18—can lead to overpayment, violation of a court order, or unnecessary conflict with the other parent or the Attorney General’s office.
Depending on your case, you may also need to:

• Navigate paperwork to cancel wage withholding,
• Clarify whether a life insurance requirement still applies,
• Determine if support for a disabled adult child must continue, or
• Modify or clarify the court’s orders if circumstances have changed.

​If you’re approaching the end of your child support obligation in Texas, it’s wise to review your court orders and consult with a family law attorney to determine what, if anything, must be done to legally bring that obligation to an end. Child support is a legal duty, and even when the original reasons for it have expired, official action is usually required to stop enforcement. Otherwise, you could find yourself continuing to pay for months—or even years—longer than necessary.