You asked for a summary of recent changes in Connecticut’s child support laws specifying the period for which courts can order divorced parents to financially support their children.

Until 1972, parents were legally required to support their minor children until age 21 (the age of majority) unless the child married or became legally emancipated at a younger age. When the legislature reduced the age of majority to 18 in that year, it effectively terminated child support obligations at the child’s 18^th birthday (PA 72-127, codified at CGS § 1-1d).

In 1994, the legislature carved out an exception for full-time high school students living with a parent. In such cases, support obligations can be extended until the child graduates or turns 19, whichever comes first. The change applies to decrees of divorce, legal separation, or annulment issued after June 30, 1994 (PA 94-6, codified at CGS § 46b-84(b)).

In 1997 the legislature permitted child support payments to continue through age 20 for children with mental retardation or certain other mental and physical disabilities defined in statute. The change applies to decrees issued after September 30, 1997 (PA 97-221, codified at CGS § 46b-84(c)).

Finally, in 2002 legislation was enacted allowing courts to order parents to pay educational support while their children are enrolled in college or other post-secondary educational or vocational programs. The obligation can extend for up to four full years or until age 23, whichever occurs first. Courts can do this only if they find it more likely than not that the parents would have provided this support if the family remained intact. The law specifies other circumstances courts must consider and conditions the parents and students must satisfy and applies to cases where the first child support order is entered after September 30, 2002 (PA 02-128, codified at CGS § 46b-56). OLR Report 2002-R-0845, copy enclosed, describes the act more fully.

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