When Does Child Maintenance Stop?

The standard end date: age 16

Child maintenance through the CMS normally ends when the child turns 16 years old. At this point, the CMS will close the case automatically unless the child is in approved education or training.

Education and training extensions

Maintenance can continue until the child turns 20 if they remain in:

• Full-time non-advanced education (A-levels, BTECs, NVQs up to Level 3)
• Approved training (such as certain government-approved schemes)

University and higher education (degree level) does not extend CMS maintenance. Once a child starts university, CMS payments stop regardless of age.

Does child maintenance stop at 18?

Not automatically. The cut-off is either age 16 (if not in qualifying education) or age 20 (the absolute upper limit even if still in qualifying education). The age of 18 itself has no special legal significance for CMS purposes - payments continue or stop based on the child's educational status, not their 18th birthday.

Other reasons maintenance can stop early

• The child starts living with the paying parent full-time
• The child gets married or enters a civil partnership
• The child moves abroad permanently
• Both parents agree to end the arrangement privately
• The paying parent dies (though their estate may still owe arrears)

Do I have to pay child maintenance after 18?

Only if the child is still in qualifying full-time non-advanced education or training, and under 20. Once either condition is no longer met, you can request the CMS close the case. The CMS will not always close automatically - you or the other parent may need to notify them of the change.

What happens to arrears when maintenance ends?

Any unpaid maintenance (arrears) do not disappear when the child turns 16 or 20. The CMS can continue to pursue arrears indefinitely, even after the regular maintenance obligation ends.