[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":354},["ShallowReactive",2],{"articulo-en-hasta-que-edad-se-paga-pension-alimentaria":3},{"id":4,"title":5,"body":6,"camino":340,"categoria":341,"description":342,"extension":343,"fecha":344,"meta":345,"minutos":346,"navigation":347,"path":348,"seo":349,"sitemap":350,"stem":352,"updatedAt":351,"__hash__":353},"articulosEn\u002Fen\u002Farticles\u002Fhasta-que-edad-se-paga-pension-alimentaria.md","Until what age is child support paid in Puerto Rico?",{"type":7,"value":8,"toc":323},"minimark",[9,14,18,21,25,64,70,75,89,96,107,111,120,123,127,136,139,142,153,156,160,165,168,177,180,183,187,190,193,196,200,203,211,214,218,221,246,249,253,256,263,268,272,275,318],[10,11,13],"h2",{"id":12},"the-short-answer","The short answer",[15,16,17],"p",{},"In Puerto Rico there is no single age at which every support obligation ends. The age of majority is 21, but support set during childhood does not end automatically when that age is reached. If the person entitled to support still needs it, the legal basis and the requirements of the obligation may change.",[15,19,20],{},"When the person reaches the age of majority while continuously pursuing professional or vocational studies, the Civil Code allows the obligation to be extended until they obtain the corresponding degree or diploma, or until they turn 25, whichever comes first. That extension is not automatic: it is for the Court to assess according to the particular circumstances of the case.",[10,22,24],{"id":23},"the-essentials","The essentials",[26,27,28,37,44,47,58,61],"ul",{},[29,30,31,32,36],"li",{},"In Puerto Rico, ",[33,34,35],"strong",{},"the age of majority is 21",".",[29,38,39,40,43],{},"Support set during childhood ",[33,41,42],{},"does not end automatically"," when the person entitled to it turns 21.",[29,45,46],{},"If continued support is requested, the now-adult person appears in their own right and must establish the basis of their claim.",[29,48,49,50,53,54,57],{},"The extension for studies applies when the person reaches the age of majority while ",[33,51,52],{},"continuously pursuing professional or vocational studies",". It can run until they obtain the corresponding degree or diploma or until they turn ",[33,55,56],{},"25",", whichever comes first, subject to the Court's assessment.",[29,59,60],{},"Twenty-five is the limit of that particular extension for studies; it is not necessarily a universal age for every possible support obligation.",[29,62,63],{},"The order in force and the legal basis of the obligation must be examined before concluding that a release is warranted.",[15,65,66],{},[67,68,69],"em",{},"The laws cited here are published officially in Spanish. The English renderings are translations offered for understanding; the Spanish text governs.",[71,72,74],"h3",{"id":73},"before-we-start-who-is-who","Before we start: who is who?",[26,76,77,83],{},[29,78,79,82],{},[33,80,81],{},"Alimentista:"," the person the law recognizes as entitled to receive support.",[29,84,85,88],{},[33,86,87],{},"Alimentante:"," the person on whom the legal obligation to provide it falls.",[15,90,91,92,95],{},"Put simply: ",[33,93,94],{},"the alimentista receives the support and the alimentante has the obligation to provide it",". These are the terms used in the law, the forms, and the court orders, so they are kept here as they are.",[15,97,98,99,106],{},"The definitions come from Article 2, subsections 4 and 6, of the ",[100,101,105],"a",{"href":102,"rel":103},"https:\u002F\u002Fbvirtualogp.pr.gov\u002Fogp\u002FBvirtual\u002FLeyesOrganicas\u002Fpdf\u002F5-1986.pdf",[104],"nofollow","Organic Act of the Child Support Administration",", Law 5-1986, as amended, 8 L.P.R.A. § 501. The statutory definition also covers a safe home and health insurance coverage.",[10,108,110],{"id":109},"the-age-of-majority-is-21","The age of majority is 21",[15,112,113,114,119],{},"Article 97 of the ",[100,115,118],{"href":116,"rel":117},"https:\u002F\u002Fbvirtualogp.pr.gov\u002Fogp\u002FBvirtual\u002Fleyesreferencia\u002FPDF\u002F55-2020.pdf",[104],"Civil Code of Puerto Rico of 2020"," provides that every person reaches the age of majority on turning 21. From that moment on they have, as a general rule, full capacity to carry out civil acts on their own. 31 L.P.R.A. § 5591.",[15,121,122],{},"Turning 21 does bring an important legal change: the person entitled to support stops appearing through whoever held their custody and gains the capacity to claim support in their own right. But that change does not mean a support order disappears on its own.",[10,124,126],{"id":125},"turning-21-does-not-automatically-end-an-existing-award","Turning 21 does not automatically end an existing award",[15,128,129,130,135],{},"In ",[100,131,134],{"href":132,"rel":133},"https:\u002F\u002Fdts.poderjudicial.pr\u002Fts\u002F2012\u002F2012TSPR187.pdf",[104],"Santiago, Maisonet v. Maisonet Correa",", 187 DPR 550 (2012), the Supreme Court held that support set during childhood does not end automatically when the person entitled to it reaches the age of majority.",[15,137,138],{},"If the person who owes support wants to be released, they must bring the matter before the Court. The request must be served on the now-adult person entitled to support so that they can appear within the same case, in their own right, and establish whether their needs continue and whether they meet the requirements to receive support.",[15,140,141],{},"The Civil Code of 2020 also provides that reaching the age of majority does not immediately extinguish subsistence obligations where:",[26,143,144,147,150],{},[29,145,146],{},"the law expressly orders their extension;",[29,148,149],{},"the person is subject to extended parental authority; or",[29,151,152],{},"the person lacks the resources or means to support themselves, for as long as the circumstances that justify the obligation persist.",[15,154,155],{},"And Article 99 provides that whoever claims those obligations have ended must prove it. 31 L.P.R.A. § 5593.",[10,157,159],{"id":158},"the-extension-for-studies-can-run-until-the-degree-or-until-25","The extension for studies can run until the degree or until 25",[15,161,162,163,36],{},"Article 655 of the Civil Code deals specifically with the cost of studies. It applies when the person entitled to support reaches the age of majority while ",[33,164,52],{},[15,166,167],{},"In those circumstances, the obligation can be extended until the first of these two events:",[169,170,171,174],"ol",{},[29,172,173],{},"the person obtains the corresponding academic or technical degree or diploma; or",[29,175,176],{},"the person turns 25.",[15,178,179],{},"The provision adds two important limits. First, the extension is subject to the Court's discretion and to the particular circumstances of the case. Second, in setting the amount, form, and term of the obligation, the Court may consider the person's abilities, their potential for development, and their academic performance. Article 655, 31 L.P.R.A. § 7533.",[15,181,182],{},"That is why being enrolled in some course does not automatically produce support until 25. The continuity and nature of the studies, academic progress, the person's need, the ability to pay, and the other relevant circumstances must all be examined.",[10,184,186],{"id":185},"does-every-award-end-at-25","Does every award end at 25?",[15,188,189],{},"Not necessarily.",[15,191,192],{},"Twenty-five is the limit Article 655 sets for the extension based on professional or vocational studies pursued continuously since childhood. The Code itself recognizes other circumstances in which support obligations may continue past the age of majority, such as extended parental authority or a lack of one's own means of support.",[15,194,195],{},"Those situations should not be confused with the extension for studies. They may carry different requirements, evidence, and legal bases, and must be assessed according to the particular circumstances of the adult and the resources of those obliged to provide support.",[10,197,199],{"id":198},"the-content-and-origin-of-the-support-order-are-key","The content and origin of the support order are key",[15,201,202],{},"Not every support order reaches the age of majority with the same procedural history.",[15,204,129,205,210],{},[100,206,209],{"href":207,"rel":208},"https:\u002F\u002Fdts.poderjudicial.pr\u002Fts\u002F2012\u002F2012TSPR135.pdf",[104],"Rivera Medina v. Villafañe González",", 186 DPR 289 (2012), the now-adult son had appeared in his own right to request financial help to finish the university studies he was pursuing. The Supreme Court read that claim, and the order issued on it, as limited to the bachelor's degree. Once that degree was completed and the studies stopped, the particular purpose of the order was exhausted. A claim for graduate studies required a further request and its own evidence.",[15,212,213],{},"That ruling does not mean every award set during childhood ends automatically when a degree is obtained. It illustrates why the origin, basis, and terms of the specific order must be examined before deciding what the right procedure is.",[10,215,217],{"id":216},"how-is-a-release-requested","How is a release requested?",[15,219,220],{},"As a general rule, the person who owes support must not unilaterally stop or reduce payment of an award in force. Article 672 of the Civil Code provides that the amount cannot be reduced without judicial authorization, and Article 673 provides that a reduction does not reach amounts that fell due before the request was filed. 31 L.P.R.A. §§ 7568 and 7569.",[15,222,223,224,229,230,233,234,239,240,245],{},"The ",[100,225,228],{"href":226,"rel":227},"https:\u002F\u002Fpoderjudicial.pr\u002FDocumentos\u002FEduco\u002Ftemas-legales\u002FPension-Alimentaria\u002FRelevo-pension-alimentaria-casos-personas-menores-edad.pdf",[104],"Judicial Branch"," explains that a release must be requested from the Court or from the Child Support Administration (ASUME), as the case may be. For support set by a court, the ",[33,231,232],{},"Motion for Release from the Obligation to Provide Child Support"," (",[100,235,238],{"href":236,"rel":237},"https:\u002F\u002Fpoderjudicial.pr\u002Fdocumentos\u002Fformularios\u002FOAT-1423.pdf",[104],"Form OAT 1423",") is available, along with its attachment ",[100,241,244],{"href":242,"rel":243},"https:\u002F\u002Fpoderjudicial.pr\u002Fdocumentos\u002Fformularios\u002FOAT-1423A.pdf",[104],"OAT 1423A"," when the release concerns more than one person entitled to support.",[15,247,248],{},"Filing a request does not guarantee a release. The forum will have to consider the order in force, the basis invoked, and the evidence presented by the parties.",[10,250,252],{"id":251},"how-can-equitas-help-you","How can Equitas help you?",[15,254,255],{},"At Equitas we can review the terms and history of the support order, explain what changes when the person entitled to support reaches the age of majority, and assess whether it makes sense to file a request for release, oppose one, or ask that support continue.",[15,257,258,259,36],{},"We can also help you identify and organize the relevant documentation and represent you before ASUME or the Court, depending on the circumstances and the stage of the case. To get started, you can ",[100,260,262],{"href":261},"\u002Fen\u002Fschedule","arrange a consultation",[15,264,265],{},[67,266,267],{},"Content reviewed as of September 2026. This article offers general information and does not replace a legal assessment of the particular circumstances of each case. Reading it does not constitute legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship.",[10,269,271],{"id":270},"sources","Sources",[15,273,274],{},"These official sources are published in Spanish.",[169,276,277,283,290,296,302,309],{},[29,278,279,282],{},[100,280,118],{"href":116,"rel":281},[104],", Law 55-2020, as amended: Arts. 97 and 99, age of majority and subsistence obligations, 31 L.P.R.A. §§ 5591 and 5593; Art. 655, cost of studies, 31 L.P.R.A. § 7533; Art. 665, amount of support for an adult, 31 L.P.R.A. § 7561; Arts. 672 and 673, judicial authorization and amounts fallen due, 31 L.P.R.A. §§ 7568 and 7569; and Art. 679, extinction of the support obligation, 31 L.P.R.A. § 7581.",[29,284,285,289],{},[100,286,288],{"href":102,"rel":287},[104],"Law No. 5 of December 30, 1986",", Organic Act of the Child Support Administration, Art. 2, definitions, 8 L.P.R.A. § 501.",[29,291,292,295],{},[100,293,134],{"href":132,"rel":294},[104],", 187 D.P.R. 550 (2012), 2012 TSPR 187.",[29,297,298,301],{},[100,299,209],{"href":207,"rel":300},[104],", 186 D.P.R. 289 (2012), 2012 TSPR 135.",[29,303,304,308],{},[100,305,307],{"href":226,"rel":306},[104],"Release from child support in cases involving minors",", official guide of the Judicial Branch of Puerto Rico.",[29,310,311,314,315,36],{},[100,312,238],{"href":236,"rel":313},[104],", Motion for Release from the Obligation to Provide Child Support, and its attachment ",[100,316,244],{"href":242,"rel":317},[104],[15,319,320],{},[67,321,322],{},"These sources were consulted and used as of September 18, 2026. Consult an attorney regarding the currency of this information and these sources.",{"title":324,"searchDepth":325,"depth":325,"links":326},"",2,[327,328,332,333,334,335,336,337,338,339],{"id":12,"depth":325,"text":13},{"id":23,"depth":325,"text":24,"children":329},[330],{"id":73,"depth":331,"text":74},3,{"id":109,"depth":325,"text":110},{"id":125,"depth":325,"text":126},{"id":158,"depth":325,"text":159},{"id":185,"depth":325,"text":186},{"id":198,"depth":325,"text":199},{"id":216,"depth":325,"text":217},{"id":251,"depth":325,"text":252},{"id":270,"depth":325,"text":271},"familia","Family matters","What changes at 21, when support can be extended for studies up to 25, and how to request a release from the obligation.","md","2026-09-17",{},8,true,"\u002Fen\u002Farticles\u002Fhasta-que-edad-se-paga-pension-alimentaria",{"title":5,"description":342},{"loc":348,"lastmod":351},"2026-09-18","en\u002Farticles\u002Fhasta-que-edad-se-paga-pension-alimentaria","qJAPTxwwwl7aZgzlRLfynNSBBPje6o3uuVNCtI0nJL0",1789766032414]