Child Support Fact Sheet

click here for a PDF version of this page   Terminating Support Orders   While child support enforcement staff work to ensure that court-ordered support is being paid and received, there are times when that support can and should end. Child support enforcement staff ensures that terminations of support are filed and cases closed.     When does a support order terminate? Certain events may trigger an end to support orders, including: Emancipation (generally defined as when a child reaches the age of majority – when he/she turns 18 and is not attending an accredited school full-time, or when the child reaches 19 years old regardless of being enrolled in school) Change in the child’s legal custody A child’s death Marriage of the child  The child is deported  The child enlists in the armed services The child is adopted by someone else.     Can support continue past the age of majority? Sometimes. If a court deems a child is mentally and/or physically disabled, support can be awarded regardless of the child’s age. Support can also continue if the child continues on to college, but only if that agreement is part of the original Decree of Divorce or Dissolution.     Does court-ordered medical insurance end when the child emancipates? Yes. If a parent’s employer has received a National Medical Support Notice requiring enrollment due to a court order, CSEA staff must issue a notice to the employer advising that the court-ordered obligation has ended and they should contact the parent to determine whether or not to continue the insurance coverage.     How does HCJFS know when to terminate a support order? Both parents are legally required to notify HCJFS Child Support if they believe there is reason to terminate a support order. Written notification is preferred, but either parent can call Child Support Enforcement or visit the HCJFS offices to report the information. The agency staff then has 20 calendar days to complete an investigation to verify the information provided.     What if the parents don’t provide the information? Child Support Enforcement staff will investigate the support orders near a child’s 18th birthday to determine if support should continue or end for that child.     What if parents have more than one child? Does support for all of them end at the same time? No. Support orders will end for each child based on the criteria mentioned above. If a child is being home-schooled or is in some alternative form of education program, Child Support Enforcement staff will ensure that the program is approved by the State of Ohio. Parents will need to provide proof of state approval to CSEA staff.     How will parents know what happens? Once an investigation is completed, CSEA staff will send a “Notice of Termination of Support” or a “Notice of Continuation of Support” to both parents. Notices of termination will include: ·         The reason for ending support ·         Any amount of arrears and how much should be paid toward that amount ·         Whether an order remains in place for any children who have not emancipated ·         Any support overpayments made to the parent receiving support