Child Support

Both parents have a duty to support their children.¹ In most cases, the law will assume that the parent the child lives with most of the time (custodial parent) is spending money directly on the child and so that’s why child support is usually issued against the non-custodial parent. In general, child support will last until your child turns 18. However, child support could end early if your child:

• gets married; or
• becomes emancipated.²

On the other hand, child support could continue after your child turns 18 in any of the following situations:

1. Your child is a full-time high school student in good standing who is not married, not yet 19 years old, and still dependent on a parent. This applies to some emancipated minors as well;
2. Your child has a developmental disability and is a full-time student who is not yet 22 years old; or
3. Your child is not married and already had an intellectual or physical disability before s/he turned 18. Because of this disability, s/he cannot support him/herself and s/he needs substantial care and personal supervision. The disability cannot include substance abuse or addiction.³

¹ LA R.S. § 9:315(A)
² LA C.C. Art. 366; Art. 367; see also Art. 368
³ LA R.S. §§ 9:315.22(C); 9:315.22(D); 9:315.22(E)(1)