233 E Main St, Moncks Corner, SC 29461
(843) 809-0232
As parents, we know that you’ll never stop supporting and loving your child. This could mean providing emotional support each day or financial support when times are tough. Filing to terminate court-ordered child support isn’t the same as refusing to support your child. It simply returns financial control to you as a parent rather than filtering that control through your co-parent.
If you need to terminate (or modify) a South Carolina child support order, contact the experienced Charleston child support termination lawyer at Martin Murphy Law LLC by calling (843) 809-0232 or confidentially connecting with our family legal team online.
Terminating v. Modifying S.C. Child Support Orders
Child support litigation generally falls into the following two categories:
Modifying (Reducing) Child Support in Charleston
Circumstances change and very often a modification of child support is warranted. Many factors can affect what an appropriate child support amount is. The Family Court might impute, i.e., assume, income for unemployed or underemployed parents. Judges calculate child support based on the South Carolina Child Support Guidelines. If you need to reduce your child support payments due to changed circumstances, discuss child support modifications with our Tri-County legal team today. Cases are handled by DSS by the state. The child support clerks contact parties after an Order has been sent to set up accounts.
Terminating (Ending) Moncks Corner Child Support Obligations
Your child support obligation typically ends when the supported child turns 18 years old and graduates from high school. If he or she turns 18 and is still high, your obligation will end when the child turns 19 if they haven’t yet graduated The Court can order that child support be provided for the life of a child if he or she has a physical or mental disability that warrants support. If you are currently paying child support and want to discuss the possibility of terminating your obligation, call us at (843) 809-0232 or reach out to us online.
Options for Ending Charleston Child Support Payments
Ending child support payments generally requires a court order certifying that a qualifying event has occurred. In South Carolina, parents might petition to end their child support obligations if one of the following events occurs:
- Adulthood: You can petition to terminate child support when your child reaches 18 or graduates from high school, whichever occurs later. If your child is not on track to graduate, you need an attorney to help you end support obligations.
- Self-Supporting/Marriage: If your child gets married or moves out and becomes self-supporting before reaching 18, you can petition to end child support.
- Emancipation: If your child becomes legally emancipated before reaching 18, you may petition to terminate child support.
- Removal of Disability: If an adult child recovers from a disability and becomes self-supporting, you might request an end to extended support obligations.
- Non-Obligatory Support: Parents who agreed to non-obligatory child support, such as making payments through college, might also work with a Moncks Corner support cancellation lawyer to end this obligation based on substantial changed circumstances.
- Paternity Results: If tests determine that the payor is not the child’s biological parent, you may petition to end temporary or permanent child support orders based on lack of paternity.
You must continue paying child support in South Carolina until you obtain a court order terminating your legal obligations. You could be held in contempt or required to pay arrears if you stop making payments without a court order.