Travis County, TX · Free Consultation
Westlake Hills, TX Child Support Lawyer
Child support does not simply stop on a child’s eighteenth birthday — and for a disabled child, it can last for life. SMB Law, PC helps Westlake Hills parents understand when support ends and when it continues. A Westlake Hills child support lawyer knows support does not simply end at eighteen and can last for life for a disabled child. Shane M. Boasberg has handled Central Texas support cases for more than twenty years and personally advises when it ends and when it continues.
Westlake Hills parents often ask exactly when a support obligation ends, and the answer surprises them — especially for a child with a disability.
Where a Westlake Hills child support case is handled
Westlake Hills is in Travis County, so a child support case is filed with the Travis County District Clerk at the Civil and Family Courthouse on Guadalupe Street in Austin, close to our office. Many orders are reached by agreement.
When child support ends — and when it lasts for life
In Texas, child support generally continues until the child turns 18 or graduates from high school, whichever is later, so support for a high-school senior often runs a few months past the eighteenth birthday. It also ends on emancipation, marriage, or the child’s death. The major exception is a child who is disabled: if a child requires substantial care and personal supervision because of a physical or mental disability that existed before the eighteenth birthday, a Texas court can order indefinite support that continues into adulthood — potentially for the lifetime of the parent or child. That order can be sought as part of the original case or in a later suit. Getting the end date right matters both ways: paying past the obligation is money not owed, while stopping too early can trigger enforcement and arrears. We help Westlake Hills parents confirm exactly when support should end and, for families raising a child with a disability, pursue or respond to a claim for lifelong support.
Support for an adult child with a disability
The most important exception to the usual end date affects Westlake Hills families raising a child with a significant disability. Texas allows a court to order support that continues indefinitely into adulthood when the child cannot be self-supporting because of a disability that began before the eighteenth birthday. Establishing it takes proof — medical documentation of the disability and its onset, and evidence of the care and supervision the adult child requires. We help families pursue that support so a vulnerable adult child remains provided for, and we help a paying parent respond fairly where such a claim is raised. Because these orders can last a lifetime, getting the facts and the amount right at the outset is essential.
Central Texas family-law experience you can rely on
Getting a child support number right — and enforceable — takes a lawyer who works with the guidelines regularly. You work directly with attorney Shane M. Boasberg, who has represented Texans for more than two decades and has been licensed by the State of Texas since 2003. He explains the math in plain English, makes sure the income figure the order is built on is correct, and keeps you informed from your first confidential consultation through final resolution.
Working with us from Westlake Hills
Our office is in downtown Austin, an easy reach from Westlake Hills. We handle most consultations and case updates by phone and video, and your first consultation is confidential. If travel is difficult, we can also come to you.
Why parents choose SMB Law, PC
- Direct attorney access — you talk to Shane, licensed since 2003, not a call center.
- Accurate numbers — we make sure support reflects the true income and the law.
- Honest advice and transparent fees explained before you commit.
What working with us looks like
- Confidential consultation to understand your goals and the law that applies.
- Strategy and records tailored to your family’s situation.
- Negotiation or court — we settle when we can and litigate when we must.
- Resolution implemented correctly so you can move on.
Frequently asked questions
Does child support automatically stop at 18 in Texas?
Not always. It generally continues until 18 or high-school graduation, whichever is later, and ends on marriage, emancipation, or death.
Can child support continue past 18 for a disabled child?
Yes. If a disability existed before 18 and the child needs substantial care, a court can order indefinite support into adulthood.
When else does a support obligation end?
On the child’s marriage, emancipation, or death, in addition to the usual age or graduation endpoint.
Do I have to travel to your office from Westlake Hills?
No. Our downtown Austin office is about 7 miles east via Loop 360 and Bee Cave Road, and we handle Westlake Hills support matters by phone and video.