In New York, child support payments are required until the child turns twenty-one, unless a court determines a child has emancipated earlier than twenty-one. Some bases for an earlier emancipation are if the child:

1. Gets married;
2. Joins the military; 
3. Becomes self-supporting; or, 
4. Emancipates themselves by leaving home, and refusing to obey their parents’ reasonable requests. 

If higher education is something both parents want for their child, then the obligation to contribute to college can also be included as a child support term. It is not required that a parent contribute to college.