Missouri or Washington State?

[mgoing]

Hello,
My wife and I were both residents of Missouri in 1999 when we divorced and that is where the decree and support order are. I moved to Nebraska and my ex wife moved to Washington state with my daughter in 2000. I still pay my support to Missouri and they forward it on to her in Wasington. My daughter is now 18 and will turn 19 in September. She graduated from HS in June of this year and has no plans to attend higher education though she may go to Beauty school next year somwtime. I need to have her emancipated so I can stop the child support to her mother. I contacted a Missouri attorney and he stated I probably will have to contact a Washington attorney to have this done but I have reservations in doing this when the support order is located and payed through Missouri. My ex wife attempted to have the juridiction moved to Washington about 5 years ago but I had never stepped foot in Washington and they would not act on the case as they had no jurisdiction over me having never been to the state. What do I need to do and where do I need to do it at..

[aaron]

What does the existing support order say, in relation to when child support ends?

[mgoing]

There was nothing as far as when it would end. All it says is that I would pay
X amount per child per month and that I would provide health insurance and thats it.

Thanks
Mike

[Mr. Knowitall]

From what you have said, you have to convince the court which issued the custody order (Missouri) that the child is emancipated such that support should end. The Missouri bar states,

Usually, child support will terminate at the age of emancipation, which differs in each state. In most cases in Missouri, the obligation to pay child support will end when the child is between the ages of 18‑22 years. The actual date of emancipation will depend on whether the child has graduated from high school and is attending some form of higher education. Other factors include whether the child is married, is on active duty in the armed forces, or is self‑supporting.

I don't know what the Missouri lawyer meant for you to do, as your daughter is an adult by virtue of her age and there is no legal action you can take in Washington State to "emancipate" somebody who is already fully emancipated by virtue of her age.

I suggest getting some clarification from the lawyer you spoke with, or consulting a second lawyer.

[mgoing]

Thank you for your help. I also had the same thoughts about trying to do anything in Washington as this case has never been in the Washington courts. Why would I want to get another state involved and complicate that issue. Also even if I did, the order is still in Missouri and unless resolved there I would begin to accrue arrears if I stopped paying without the Missouri courts permission.

Thanks again

Mike