[IL] [IL] Once the child is 18 and the child support stops, can the other parent go back for more money?
In Illinois, for child support — once the child is 18 and the child support stops — can the other parent go back for more money?
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If you are legally and officially done, that ends your obligation.
Any post-high school or college-related support must have been requested while the child support order was still active. Once the order terminates, the other parent generally cannot go back retroactively to ask for more unless there’s a specific prior court order or statute-based provision allowing college contribution.
In Illinois, a parent can request educational expenses for college (under 750 ILCS 5/513), but that must be filed before or at the time regular support ends. It cannot be created retroactively after the case has closed unless the court explicitly reserved jurisdiction.
So, if she didn’t request college expenses before termination, she likely can’t reopen the case to seek them now.
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In Illinois, for child support — once the child is 18 and the child support stops — can the other parent go back for more money?
I understand your concern about child support in Illinois. Has the child already turned 18 and child support has stopped?
Termination letter went out June 7.
Were there any specific circumstances or changes in the financial situation of either parent that might warrant a modification of the child support agreement?
No.
Is there anything else the family lawyer should know before I connect you? Rest assured they’ll be able to help with child support termination.
Yes.
This is Alex, Esq., and welcome to AskALawyer.
I’ve been a legal expert on the site for over a decade, and my goal is to provide you with the best possible experience and answer your questions clearly.
I understand you have questions about child support and whether the other parent can go back for more after the child turns 18. Can you share a little background?
When you say “go back for more money,” do you mean arrears or new support after termination?
My son turned 18 and graduated high school in Illinois. A termination letter went out to my employer on June 7. Am I officially done with child support? I don’t owe anything — I’ve been paying, and I called the courts, and no money is owed.
Thank you, I understand. So you’re wondering if the other parent can still try to get more support even though your obligation has officially ended, right?
Yes — can she go back and put me back on if he goes to college?
Like once I’m officially off, can she go back to the courts and get more money?
If you are legally and officially done, that ends your obligation.
Any post-high school or college-related support must have been requested while the child support order was still active. Once the order terminates, the other parent generally cannot go back retroactively to ask for more unless there’s a specific prior court order or statute-based provision allowing college contribution.
In Illinois, a parent can request educational expenses for college (under 750 ILCS 5/513), but that must be filed before or at the time regular support ends. It cannot be created retroactively after the case has closed unless the court explicitly reserved jurisdiction.
So, if she didn’t request college expenses before termination, she likely can’t reopen the case to seek them now.
Yeah, I don’t think she went back to ask for anything after high school. I know she filed for a modification review, but she never did her part of the paperwork, so they just dropped it.
Right — if it was dropped and dismissed, and she never followed through, that should be the end of it. You’ve fulfilled your obligation, and unless the court reopens the case for a valid reason, your payments and responsibility are over.
Okay, thank you. I was just curious because I didn’t know — I know some states make you pay if the child is in college, and that’s fine, but I just didn’t know if she could go back and request it after everything has stopped.
You’re welcome! And you’re correct — some states automatically extend support for college, but in Illinois, that only applies if the custodial parent files for it before the existing support ends.
Once it’s officially terminated and you owe nothing, the order is closed — and she can’t come back later to reopen it for new payments.
Alex, Esq.
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