How do i stop paying child support after 18 years? maryland

Unless the court order awarding child support has a provision stating that the child support automatically terminates upon the child reaching the age of 18 or, if the child has not graduated from high school the earlier of age 19 or graduating from high school (highly unlikely since the statute has changed in the past 18 years), then you need for file a motion to terminate child support. If the other parent will agree, then you can file a consent motion. You may wish to consult with an attorney.

In most circumstances, you will need to file a motion to ask the court to relieve you from your obligation to pay. You need the court's permission, so don't just stop paying after your child's birthday. The courts provide a fill-in-the-blank form you may use for this purpose (see link). You'll need the information from your case - the case number associated with the child support order, the amount for which you are obligated, date of the order, etc. There is a section on the form where you can indicate the reason you believe you are no longer required to pay - i.e., the child's age (note that if the child is still in high school, your obligation may extend past age 18). If you have difficulty with the form, both the Baltimore City and Baltimore County Circuit Courts have a Pro Se clinic where you can ask an attorney to give you some guidance. (Assuming your case is in Baltimore, where stated you live.) Check the web or call the court for the clinic hours. When the form is complete, bring it to the court clerk's office and they can assist you with filing it. If your particular case has any unusual wrinkles or complexities - for example if you have signed a settlement agreement that obligates you for additional support - you may need to consult an attorney. The forms the court provides are great, but if your case is more complicated than simply having your obligation "expire", the process can become more complex than you may feel comfortable handling on your own.