Continuation of Support for Child Not Going to School

[R Engelman]

My question involves child support in the State of: Tennessee.

I understand support laws indicate that support will continue until child reaches 18 or graduates high school whichever is later. Can I request termination of support if child has reached 18, is no longer attending high school (she indicates that she has completed all required credits) and has delivered her first child? Or because her class has not graduated and her graduation date is noted to be that date in the future then support order continues? I am just curious what constitutes "enrollment in school"? Thanks for your thoughts.

[Mr. Knowitall]

If the child is 18 and is not attending high school, that would normally be a basis to terminate the support order. I cannot read the order from here, but if that's not explicit I would expect a court to find it to be implicit - obviously you wouldn't pay child support to mom for the child's entire life if the child never completes high school, and if she has graduated and is 18 then she similarly isn't attending high school. There may be some details that are important, as in what it means that she has "has completed all required credits" and whether she has in fact graduated. If you share the exact language of the order, somebody might be able to be more definitive; or you can petition the court to terminate support and see how the judge rules.