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View Full Version : Is Emancipation Automatic When A Child Turns 21 In Indiana?


flyguy47303
Nov 21, 2008, 04:52 PM
Just curious, I have heard several different opinions from several attorneys and would like some clarity. I have always paid support and never missed a payment. My daughter dropped out of school when she was 16 with her mother's OK. She moved in with a friend and I never found out about her dropping out until she was 19. I threatened to emancipate her if she didn't go back to school and she refused to go back. When we went to court she claimed medical problems, denied moving in with her friend and said she was going to get her GED... after being out of school over three years. Support was continued under the conditions that she get her GED. She did. She is now 21 and claims she is in school fill time. The child support order doesn't state a specific age, yet I understand it is 21 in Indiana. Any thoughts?

cdad
Nov 21, 2008, 05:21 PM
Yes it is automatic like turning 18 is in many states. If they are still asking for support then you need to file for a modification based on the fact your child has now reached the age of majority. That should stop support unless there was something written into your support papers that states different.

stinawords
Nov 21, 2008, 06:40 PM
If support hasn't stopped then you need to get into court as soon as you can. You might want to call the child support office and talk to your case worker first just to see if there was some sort of error or delay in the computer system or something. Then go to court and petition the judge to stop the support because she is no longer a child.