Child support terminates at emancipation, typically majority or high school completion. Spousal support terminates on remarriage in most states and on death of either party absent contrary agreement.
Cohabitation may terminate or suspend support.
Alternative Names:
Support Termination|End of Support Obligation
Why it Matters?
Termination is not automatic in many jurisdictions and requires a motion, which means an obligor who stopped paying on a triggering event without obtaining an order may accrue arrearages the court cannot retroactively eliminate. Filing promptly is accordingly necessary. Cohabitation provisions should define the term specifically, since statutory and common law definitions vary and litigation over what constitutes cohabitation is routine.
Frequently Confused with
Related terms
Frequently asked questions
Is termination automatic?
How should cohabitation be defined?
