Child support is a point of contention in many divorce or child custody cases. It can be a significant financial burden on the paying parent, and a source of ill feelings if the financial support you provide every month is misused.
Many people may believe that child support will change if one party remarries. However, under Louisiana law, a child has a right to the financial support of both legal parents, regardless of their marital status.
You Surrender Your Parental Rights
The thought of surrendering your parental rights can be jarring, and in many cases, it is not appropriate or even possible. However, in limited circumstances — such as when another adult is ready and willing to adopt your child — surrendering your rights may be an option.
When a parent’s rights are legally terminated through the court, their obligation to provide financial support also ends. Judges will only grant termination if it is in the child’s best interests and if it ensures the child still has two legal parents to provide for them.
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Your Child Turns 18/Graduates
Once your child is 18 and has graduated from high school or a similar program, you are no longer obligated to provide for them financially.
However, there are some exceptions. If your child is still in high school or has significant disability that keeps them dependent on parental care, you may still be obligated to pay for longer.
Your Child Becomes Emancipated
If your minor child becomes emancipated in Louisiana, they are generally considered legally independent and no longer entitled to child support. Once emancipated, the child is relieved of the “disabilities of minority” and can make many of their own legal and financial decisions.
However, child support does not end automatically — a parent must typically file a petition with the court to have the obligation terminated.
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You End Child Support by Reaching an Agreement
Even if you and your child’s other parent agree to stop child support, the agreement is not automatically enforceable. In Louisiana, a court can only modify or terminate child support orders. If both parents agree, you may file a joint motion with the court requesting termination or modification, but a judge must approve it before your legal obligation ends. You should not stop paying based on a verbal agreement or without speaking with an attorney.
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Considerations for Relieving a Parent of Child Support Obligations
In any of the above situations regarding minor children, if you and the other parent cannot make a reasonable argument as to how suspending child support is in the best interest of your child or will not have a negative impact, it is unlikely to be successful.
For example, a judge is unlikely to amend or remove your support order if the child’s other parent is unable to sufficiently support both of them without it. Similarly, the courts are not likely to allow a parent to surrender rights if it will leave the child without a second parent to provide for them.
Reach Out to Our Law Office for Further Assistance
Trying to avoid or modify child support obligations in Louisiana without legal guidance can be risky. Courts will always prioritize your child’s best interests, and making mistakes could leave you with unexpected financial obligations or even legal penalties.
At Knight Law Firm, our Monroe child support attorneys can review your situation, explain your rights, and walk you through the options that may be available to you — whether that’s modification, termination, or pursuing a different custody arrangement. Give us a call today.
Contact the Louisiana Family Law Attorney at Knight Law Firm for Help Today
Contact our family lawyers at Knight Law Firm for a consultation. We proudly serve Shreveport, Monroe, Ruston, and the surrounding areas of North Louisiana.
Knight Law Firm – Shreveport Office
401 Market Street Suite 1006
Shreveport, LA 71101
(318) 569-8469
Knight Law Firm – Ruston Office
111 Kilgore Rd
Ruston, LA 71270
(318) 722-8919
Knight Law Firm – Monroe Office
1896 Hudson Cir N #1
Monroe, LA 71201
(318) 323-2213
Call or text 318-323-2213 or complete a Case Evaluation form
