The Office of Child Support Hearings (OCSH) has the authority to terminate child support obligations in accordance with the provisions contained in the current court or administrative child support order. 

The Hawaii Child Support Guidelines provide that support for an adult child who is a full-time student may continue until the child attains the age of 23.  

In order for child support to continue beyond a child’s eighteenth birthday,  usually proof must be provided that:

• The current child support order permits the continuance of child support beyond the child’s eighteenth birthday

     and the child is:

• Still in high school, or
• Presently enrolled as a full-time student in school or has been accepted into and plans to attend as a full-time student for the next semester a post-high school university, college, or vocational school

The Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA) usually begins communications with the parties near a child’s eighteenth birthday to determine whether child support should terminate.  If the appropriate proof is provided, the child support will continue.  If the appropriate proof is not provided, administrative proceedings are initiated to terminate the child support.

CSEA serves both parents with a proposed administrative order to terminate the child support obligation.

Each parent then has an opportunity to request a hearing to contest the proposed order.  If a parent requests a hearing within the time period allowed, a hearing is scheduled and conducted. 
Issues that may be addressed at a termination hearing include:

• Provisions in the current child support order concerning adult child support
• The child’s full-time enrollment in high school or a post-high school university, college, or vocational school
• The adult child’s earnings
• The adult child’s property
• The adult child’s needs
• The adult child’s loans, grants or financial aid
• Both parents’ income and resources

The Hearing Officer will determine whether evidence presented at the hearing is relevant to the proceeding. 

To prepare for a hearing parties should read thoroughly all documents they receive from the CSEA and the OCSH.  These documents will explain the action the CSEA is proposing and what laws and/or regulations govern it. 

See also the Preparing for Your Hearing section of this website regarding documents parties may want to present at the administrative hearing.