10/16/2026
A child’s 18th birthday is an important milestone, but in New Hampshire, it does not necessarily mean that a parent’s child support obligation immediately comes to an end.
The duration of child support depends on more than age alone. A child’s educational status, whether they have graduated from high school, and the terms of the existing support order can all be relevant when determining when the obligation terminates. Questions can also arise when a family has multiple children covered by the same order or when circumstances change as a child approaches adulthood.
Understanding these rules in advance can be important for both parents. Assuming that support automatically ends on a particular birthday may lead to confusion about ongoing obligations or whether further court action is necessary.
Our latest article examines when child support ends in New Hampshire, what happens when a child turns 18, and the circumstances parents should consider as an existing support obligation approaches its conclusion.