In Louisiana, child support ends when the child turns 18 years old under La. R.S. 9:315.22. If the child is still a full-time high school student at age 18, support continues until the child turns 19 or graduates, whichever comes first. Louisiana also extends support indefinitely for children with intellectual or physical disabilities that manifested before age 18, and a 2025 law change (La. R.S. 9:315.22.1) created new procedures for continuing support until age 22 for children with developmental disabilities enrolled in secondary school. Filing to terminate child support costs approximately $200 to $400 depending on the parish, with service of process fees adding $50 to $100.
Key Facts: Louisiana Child Support Termination
| Factor | Detail |
|---|---|
| Standard Termination Age | 18 years old |
| High School Exception | Age 19, if full-time student in good standing |
| Developmental Disability Exception | Age 22 (effective January 1, 2025, per Act 448 of 2024) |
| Permanent Disability Exception | No age limit if disability manifested before 18 |
| College Support Required | No statutory obligation |
| Filing Fee Range | $200-$400 by parish |
| Residency Requirement | 6-month domicile in Louisiana |
| Governing Statute | La. R.S. 9:315.22 |
| Calculation Model | Income Shares (La. R.S. 9:315 et seq.) |
| Court System | Louisiana District Courts (Family Division) |
Standard Age of Termination: Age 18 in Louisiana
Child support in Louisiana terminates when the child reaches 18 years of age, which is the age of majority under Louisiana law. Under La. R.S. 9:315.22, per-child support awards terminate automatically at the child's 18th birthday without requiring a court filing. Combined (in globo) awards terminate automatically when the youngest child reaches majority or emancipation. Louisiana follows the majority rule among U.S. states, where 18 is the standard cutoff for child support obligations.
The automatic termination applies only to the ongoing monthly obligation. Any unpaid arrears that accumulated before the child turned 18 remain enforceable. Louisiana courts retain jurisdiction to collect child support arrears for 10 years under La. C.C. Art. 3501, meaning a parent who owes back support cannot escape that debt simply because the child has reached majority. Parents who owe arrears of $2,500 or more may face driver's license suspension, tax refund intercept, or wage garnishment through the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS).
The High School Student Exception: Support Until Age 19
Louisiana extends child support beyond age 18 when the child is still attending high school or its equivalent full-time. Under La. R.S. 9:315.22, support continues until the child turns 19, graduates from high school, or ceases to be enrolled full-time in good standing, whichever occurs first. The child must also remain unmarried and dependent on either parent for this exception to apply.
This exception recognizes that some children turn 18 before completing their senior year of high school. Approximately 8% to 10% of Louisiana high school seniors are 18 at the start of the school year due to late birthdays or grade retention. The paying parent remains obligated during this period, and the extension is automatic under the statute. The child need not file any motion. If the child drops out, is expelled, or switches to part-time enrollment, the exception ceases and the support obligation terminates immediately.
Developmental Disability Extension to Age 22 (2025 Law Change)
Effective January 1, 2025, Louisiana Act 448 (HB 770 of the 2024 Regular Session) created La. R.S. 9:315.22.1, establishing a formal procedure for continuing child support until age 22 for children with developmental disabilities. A developmental disability is defined under La. R.S. 28:451.2 and includes conditions such as intellectual disability, autism, cerebral palsy, and epilepsy that manifested before age 22 and substantially limit major life activities.
To qualify for the extension to age 22, the child must be a full-time student in a secondary school program, remain unmarried, and have a developmental disability recognized under the statutory definition. The custodial parent must file a formal motion with the court requesting continuation of support, which was not previously required. The 2025 law change also amended La. R.S. 9:315.14 to add a caregiver exemption: a judge may no longer impute income to a parent who is the primary caregiver for a child requiring substantial supervision due to a serious disability. This prevents courts from penalizing parents who leave the workforce to care for a disabled child.
Permanent Disability: No Age Limit for Child Support
Louisiana imposes no age limit on child support for children with permanent intellectual or physical disabilities that prevent self-support. Under La. R.S. 9:315.22, the court shall order continued support for an adult child who is unmarried, incapable of self-support, and requires substantial care and personal supervision due to a mental or physical disability that manifested before the child reached 18 years of age.
The statute explicitly excludes substance abuse or addiction from qualifying conditions. The disability must be documented through medical evidence, and the parent seeking continued support bears the burden of proof. Louisiana courts have held that the disability need not be total. A child who can perform some work but cannot earn enough to be self-supporting may still qualify. The paying parent's obligation continues until the disability resolves, the child becomes self-supporting, the child marries, or the paying parent dies. In practice, many of these obligations extend for the parent's lifetime, which can represent a financial commitment of $100,000 or more over several decades depending on the monthly support amount.
Emancipation: How It Ends Child Support Early
A child who becomes emancipated before age 18 is no longer entitled to child support under Louisiana law. Louisiana recognizes three forms of emancipation, each governed by a separate article of the Civil Code. Full emancipation confers all the effects of majority, meaning the child is treated as a legal adult for all purposes, including termination of child support.
| Type of Emancipation | Civil Code Article | Minimum Age | Requirements | Effect on Child Support |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Judicial Emancipation | La. C.C. Art. 366 | 16 | Court order for good cause; can be full or limited | Full emancipation terminates support; limited depends on scope |
| Emancipation by Marriage | La. C.C. Art. 367 | 16 | Lawful marriage | Automatic termination; irrevocable even if marriage ends |
| Limited Emancipation by Authentic Act | La. C.C. Art. 368 | 16 | Notarized act by minor and parents/tutor | Terminates support only if the act relieves disabilities of minority |
Judicial emancipation requires a petition to the district court demonstrating good cause for the emancipation. A child who is financially self-supporting, living independently, and managing personal affairs may qualify. Marriage emancipation is automatic upon a lawful marriage at age 16 or 17 and remains in effect even if the marriage is later dissolved by divorce or annulment. Military enlistment, while not a statutory form of emancipation in Louisiana, generally constitutes a basis for terminating child support because the child is self-supporting and no longer dependent on parental care.
Does Louisiana Require Child Support Through College?
Louisiana does not require parents to pay child support for a child attending college or university. There is no statutory obligation under Louisiana law for post-secondary educational support, and courts cannot order it absent a voluntary agreement between the parents. This places Louisiana among the 36 states that do not mandate college support, compared to states like Indiana, Iowa, and New Jersey that authorize courts to order educational contributions.
However, parents may voluntarily agree to fund college expenses as part of a divorce settlement or custody agreement. When such an agreement is incorporated into a court order, it becomes enforceable. Louisiana courts will uphold these agreements under general contract principles. Parents negotiating a divorce settlement should consider whether to include college support provisions, specifying the duration (typically 4 to 5 years), the type of institution covered (in-state public, private, or any accredited school), and a maximum annual contribution amount. Without a written agreement, the paying parent's child support obligation ends at 18 or 19 regardless of the child's enrollment in higher education.
How Louisiana Calculates Child Support
Louisiana uses the Income Shares model under La. R.S. 9:315 et seq. to calculate child support. Both parents' adjusted gross incomes are combined, and the child support obligation is allocated proportionally based on each parent's percentage share of the combined income. The guidelines schedule covers combined monthly adjusted gross income up to $40,000 per month. For incomes exceeding $40,000, the court exercises discretion but must order at least the highest amount listed in the schedule.
The calculation process follows these steps under La. R.S. 9:315.2: determine each parent's monthly gross income, subtract preexisting support obligations and certain allowable deductions, combine the adjusted incomes, look up the basic obligation in the schedule (La. R.S. 9:315.19), add health insurance premiums and extraordinary medical expenses, add work-related child care costs, and allocate the total proportionally. The domiciliary parent's share is presumed satisfied through direct expenditures on the child, while the non-domiciliary parent pays their share as the monthly child support amount.
The DCFS provides a free online child support calculator at dcfs.louisiana.gov to help parents estimate their obligation. The child support schedule was most recently updated by Act 86 of 2024, effective January 1, 2025.
Process for Terminating Child Support in Louisiana
Terminating child support in Louisiana depends on whether the original order was per-child or in globo (a combined amount for all children). Per-child awards terminate automatically at the statutory age without requiring any court action. In globo awards terminate when the youngest child reaches majority or emancipation. Despite the automatic nature of termination, obtaining a formal court order is strongly recommended to prevent future disputes over arrears.
To file for termination, a parent should follow these steps:
- Obtain the Rule to Modify Child Support form (SES 668) from the Louisiana State Bar Association, the Law Library of Louisiana, or the parish Clerk of Court.
- Complete the form stating that the child has reached majority, graduated from high school, married, or become emancipated.
- File the original and at least 3 copies with the Clerk of Court in the parish that issued the original support order.
- Pay the filing fee, which ranges from $200 to $400 depending on the parish. As of March 2026, verify the exact amount with your local Clerk of Court. Parents unable to afford the fee may request in forma pauperis status under La. C.C.P. Art. 5181.
- Serve the other parent with the motion through the sheriff's office or private process server ($50 to $100 additional).
- Attend the scheduled court hearing.
- Obtain the signed court order terminating child support.
Alternatively, if DCFS enforces the child support order, parents can request an administrative review for modification or termination through the DCFS Child Support Enforcement program at no cost. DCFS charges a $25 application fee for non-FITAP/Medicaid recipients seeking enforcement services.
Residency Requirements for Louisiana Courts
Louisiana requires a parent to be domiciled in the state to file for child support termination or modification. Under La. C.C.P. Art. 10, Louisiana courts exercise jurisdiction over status matters, including child support, when one party is domiciled in the state. Domicile requires both physical presence in Louisiana and the present intent to remain. A 6-month period of continuous residence in a Louisiana parish creates a rebuttable presumption of domicile.
For child custody and support jurisdiction, Louisiana follows the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA). The child must have lived in Louisiana for at least 6 consecutive months before the filing (or since birth for infants under 6 months) for Louisiana to serve as the child's home state. A court that has divorce jurisdiction does not automatically have jurisdiction over child support. Jurisdiction over support must independently exist based on the child's domicile or the parties' connections to Louisiana.
What Happens to Unpaid Child Support After Termination
Unpaid child support arrears survive the termination of the ongoing obligation. Louisiana courts retain the authority to enforce arrears for 10 years after they accrue. A parent who owes $5,000 in back child support when the child turns 18 still owes that $5,000, plus any accrued interest. Louisiana charges legal interest on unpaid child support at the current judicial rate.
DCFS enforcement tools for collecting arrears include wage garnishment (up to 50% to 65% of disposable income under federal law), federal and state tax refund intercepts, suspension of driver's licenses for arrears exceeding $2,500, suspension of professional licenses, passport denial for arrears exceeding $2,500 under federal law (42 U.S.C. 652(k)), and liens on real and personal property. Contempt of court proceedings may result in fines or incarceration for willful nonpayment. Parents who owe arrears should negotiate a payment plan with DCFS or seek a court-approved repayment schedule rather than ignoring the debt.
Frequently Asked Questions
At what age does child support end in Louisiana?
Child support in Louisiana ends at age 18 under La. R.S. 9:315.22. The one major exception extends support to age 19 if the child is a full-time high school student in good standing, unmarried, and dependent on either parent. Support also continues indefinitely for children with permanent disabilities that manifested before age 18.
Does child support continue through college in Louisiana?
Louisiana does not require parents to pay child support while a child attends college. There is no statutory provision for post-secondary educational support. However, parents may voluntarily agree to college support in a divorce settlement, and courts will enforce such agreements as binding contracts.
Can child support end before age 18 in Louisiana?
Yes, child support can end before age 18 through emancipation. Under La. C.C. Art. 366, a child aged 16 or older may petition for judicial emancipation. Marriage at age 16 or 17 automatically emancipates the child under La. C.C. Art. 367. Military enlistment also generally terminates the obligation.
What changed about Louisiana child support law in 2025?
Louisiana Act 448 of 2024, effective January 1, 2025, created La. R.S. 9:315.22.1, which established formal procedures for continuing child support until age 22 for children with developmental disabilities enrolled in secondary school. The law also added a caregiver exemption preventing courts from imputing income to parents caring for disabled children.
How do I file to terminate child support in Louisiana?
File a Rule to Modify Child Support (form SES 668) with the Clerk of Court in the parish that issued the original order. The filing fee ranges from $200 to $400 depending on the parish, plus $50 to $100 for service of process. Parents unable to pay may request in forma pauperis status under La. C.C.P. Art. 5181.
Does child support automatically stop at 18 in Louisiana?
Per-child child support awards terminate automatically at age 18 under La. R.S. 9:315.22 without requiring a court filing. Combined (in globo) awards terminate when the youngest child reaches majority. Despite automatic termination, obtaining a court order is recommended to prevent disputes over arrears or the high school exception.
What if my child has a disability? Does support continue?
Louisiana courts order continued child support with no age limit for children who are unmarried, incapable of self-support, and have an intellectual or physical disability that manifested before age 18 under La. R.S. 9:315.22. Substance abuse or addiction does not qualify. The custodial parent must prove the disability through medical evidence.
Can I still owe child support after it officially ends?
Yes. Unpaid child support arrears survive termination and remain enforceable for 10 years after they accrue. Louisiana enforcement tools include wage garnishment, tax refund intercepts, license suspension for arrears over $2,500, passport denial for arrears over $2,500 under federal law, property liens, and contempt of court proceedings.
What is the income limit for Louisiana child support calculations?
The Louisiana child support guidelines schedule under La. R.S. 9:315.19 covers combined monthly adjusted gross income up to $40,000 (or $480,000 annually). For combined incomes exceeding that amount, the court exercises discretion but must order at least the highest amount listed in the schedule. The schedule was updated effective January 1, 2025, by Act 86 of 2024.
Does remarriage affect when child support ends in Louisiana?
The paying parent's remarriage does not change when child support ends in Louisiana. The child's remarriage, however, constitutes emancipation under La. C.C. Art. 367 and automatically terminates the support obligation. A new spouse's income is not included in the child support calculation under Louisiana's Income Shares model, though it may be considered if it significantly changes the parent's financial circumstances.