Q: My son is in Rhode Island, he graduated high school and is over 18. Can I stop paying child support?
A: If your child support judgment is a Rhode Island Family Court judgment then yes. If your child support judgment is not a Rhode Island Family Court judgment then no. Your son's presence in Rhode Island does not change your child support obligation. Some states such as Massachusetts can order child support through a higher age than 18, and they often do. You would need to review the terms of the judgment or order to know. You would also need to check whether there is any unpaid amount remaining due, especially if the state does collection, and also examine whether or not you contractually agreed to pay your son's expenses beyond age 18, such as in a marital settlement agreement pursuant to a divorce. For example, the parties to a divorce will often agree to pay for college expenses.
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