Section 24.14 Termination of Duty of Child Support

• Library: Family Law Deskbook and 2014 Supp

L. (§24.14) Termination of Duty of Child Support

The events that trigger the termination of a parent’s obligation to pay child support are set forth in § 452.340.3, RSMo Supp. 2011, which provides that:

3. Unless the circumstances of the child manifestly dictate otherwise and the court specifically so provides, the obligation of a parent to make child support payments shall terminate when the child:

(1) Dies;

(2) Marries;

(3) Enters active duty in the military;

(4) Becomes self-supporting, provided that the custodial parent has relinquished the child from parental control by express or implied consent; . . . .

Further, § 452.340.5 provides that the duty of support terminates at 18 years old unless the child is enrolled in and attending a secondary school program when the child turns 18 years old. In that instance, the child support obligation continues until the child completes that program or turns 21 years old, whichever is sooner. Then, if by October first of the year of graduation from secondary school the child is enrolled in an institution of vocational education or higher education, the duty of support continues until the child completes the program or turns 21 years old, whichever first occurs. The court may waive the October first requirement if the “circumstances of the child manifestly dictate . . . .” Id. Further, if the child receives failing grades in half or more of the child’s course load in any one semester in which the child is enrolled in at least 12 credit hours, “payment of child support may be terminated and...