By Kristin Bien (kbien@wsbt.com) WSBT-TV

6:09 a.m. EDT, May 18, 2012
"I understand that we made this child and in essence I am the parent and I have to take responsibility, but he needs to be held accountable too," says Taylor, "And I am tired of it."

Taylor feels this new law is just another way to let the payer off the hook.

Scott Laird, a South Bend father of three, pays his child support religiously. He agrees with the change and says many kids at that age are out of high school and supporting themselves ... so it doesn't make sense that parents should continue paying child support after age 19.

Still, Laird doesn't believe this should be an excuse for parents to stop seeing and supporting their children.

"I love my kids. All I want to do is see them," says Laird, "I don't care, I'll pay child support until 19 or 21. I'll always support my kids."

LEGAL RAMIFICATIONS

"This is a significant change in the law," says local attorney Mark James of Anderson, Agostino & Keller

James, whose practice has focused on family law for the past 27 years, doesn't know how many people this will affect, but it will mean major changes for Indiana families.

"The age of emancipation has been 21 for as long as I have practiced," says James, "it is going to affect a lot of people. Whether directly or indirectly, it is going to change the way a lot of people handle their kids."

CLICK HERE for the Indiana Department of Child Services 'Child Support' Web site