ANNOUNCER: I’m with Laura Smith from Cohen Highly Lawyers. Does child support end when the child turns 18 years old?
LAURA: It depends. Child support ends when the child stops being a child as per either the Family Law Act or the Divorce Act. So, while that is typically seen as 18, if the child is still enrolled in full time education after 18 years of age, say they go to university or college or really any post secondary education, the child support payments may continue.
ANNOUNCER: You mentioned full time education. If they’re not in school full time child support stops?
LAURA: Typically, yes.
ANNOUNCER: What if the child goes to school in another city?
LAURA: In that scenario, child support may only be owed for the four months of summer break and not while they’re away at school. In that situation, contact a family law lawyer to discuss your child support obligations as there are multiple factors to consider for children over 18.