Child Support

Both parents have the responsibility to support their children.¹ In Louisiana, the child’s main caregiver, who is usually the custodial parent, will be the one receiving child support.² This means that the non-custodial parent is usually the one ordered to pay child support. 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.³

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 they turned 18. Because of this disability, your child can’t support themselves and they need substantial care and personal supervision. However, substance abuse and addiction don’t count as disabilities for the purposes of child support.⁴

¹ La. Rev. Stat. § 9:315(A)
² LouisianaLawHelp.org- Child Support
³ La. Civ. Code Art. 366-367
⁴ La. Rev. Stat. §§ 9:315.22(C), (D); 9:315.22.1(A)