Child support is an important element of child financial security, for as the child grow up, they need to have their expenses catered for. However, there is a time in the life of a child when he or she attains a certain age, and the father has no further responsibility for providing child support. These are important things that a parent needs to know child support Oklahoma, especially when the child reaches a certain age regarding child support and other related matters.
When Does Child Support End in Oklahoma?
In Oklahoma, child support ends or is due when the child is 18 years of age and out of high school. However, there are exceptions to this rule that may extend the support obligation:
- Still in High School: Child support is required through high school if the child is 18 and still in high school and it ends when the child graduates or attains the age of 19 whichever comes first. This extension makes it possible for the child to be financially supported to enable them complete their education.
- Disability: Indeed, child support can continue after the age of 18 in situations where the child has a physical or mental disability that makes him or her unable to be independent. In such cases, the court can uphold its ruling on continued support to meet the child’s future requirements.
Process of Terminating Child Support
If you at any one time get to an age of the child when support is presumed to cease, legal steps must be followed to leave the support arrears. This process involves several steps: This process involves several steps:
- Filing a Motion: The parent alleged to be a supporter of the child and who is bound to make payments is the one who has to seek the orders of the court to discontinue the child support. This motion should be made as soon as the child is of the right age or when having finished high school.
- Court Review: The court will look at the motion and satisfy itself that the requisites for termination of child support have been met. In this review, the legal obligation of support may include ascertaining the age of the child, their educational level, and any other circumstances that might affect support payable.
- Issuance of Termination Order: If the court has confirmed that the child is no longer entitled to support, then the court will make a termination order. This order thus brings to a close the child support responsibility, and no more payments are needed.
- Final Payment: It is critical that all child support needs to be paid before the termination order is given out. If not, it may attract legal issues or enforcement actions that put the compliance program at risk.
Considerations for Parents
When your child is close to the age of majority, proper preparation to bring the child support to an end should be made. This planning also entails legal planning and implies knowledge of your legal responsibilities, as well as the financial changes, if any, to be made. In the case of theteenso have been receiving child support, the cancellation of such payments will likely trigger some readjustment in their expenditure.
For parents who have been paying child support, the termination of the obligation may be a source of savings, but it is important to go through the process in the right manner to avert any problems.
Continuing to Support Your Child
Child support means that you want your child and you are responsible for him or her; however, the legal responsibility to pay child support ceases when the child turns 18; however, most parents remain valuable in the lives of their children. It could mean paying for college, offering a home, or providing for your child as they grow into an adult.
You need to keep your child and co-parent advised on the expected and proposed course of actions, if any, as you transition.
Legal Guidance
The termination of child support is not always easy to negotiate, especially when there are specific conditions like disability or further education. Consulting a lawyer can assist the client in determining the rights and responsibilities that have to be fulfilled, prepare all the necessary documents, and guarantee that everything will proceed without complications.
Conclusion
The termination of child support in Oklahoma appears as a significant step not only in a child’s life but also in the life of the parent. It is imperative to know when and how such orders stop so that people do not run foul of the law and can prepare for the change.
