[OIFvetWife08]

My stepdaughter lives in the Monterey area and just started her senior year last month (August). She will turn 18 at the end of next month (October). On her 18th birthday, can she legally walk out of her mother's home for good?

If she does leave her mother's, how does my husband stop the child support payments he would otherwise have to keep paying until our daughter graduated next June?

[CourtClerk]

Yes, she can leave the house at 18. No, he cannot just stop the child support payments, the court would have to terminate the order.

[gigirle]

What does his current order state as to when the CS is to terminate?
If she moves in with you when she's 18, go to court and try to get the order modified.

[CourtClerk]

Standard CA CS orders state that CS is to be paid until the child is 18, or 19 if still in high school. Apparently, NCP is going to be paying support until at least next May or June (depending on graduation date) or at the latest October 2009 (her 19th birthday).