Do You Have to Pay Child Support when Your Child Goes to College?
When two parents divorce, they must resolve many issues and child support is one of the biggest. Child support is intended to cover the child’s expenses and many parents wonder if this includes college. Students in Florida pay $3,891 for in-state residency and that amount more than triples to $15,494 if a student goes to school out of state. While, on average, this amount is lower than the rest of the country, it is still a significant expense for parents. So, should child support cover tuition?
When Does Child Support End in Florida?
Generally speaking, support obligations are terminated on the child’s 18th birthday. However, there are some exceptions to this rule. If a child is still in high school on their 18th birthday, child support continues until the child graduates. If there is no reasonable expectation that a child will graduate by the time they turn 19 years old, support is terminated on the child’s 18th birthday.
Additionally, if a child becomes emancipated, child support is terminated on the date of emancipation. If a child gets married or elitists in the military, emancipation can occur. Becoming financially independent through another means can also result in emancipation.
Child Support and College Education
While parents do not have a legal obligation to continue paying child support for college tuition, they can reach an agreement that support will continue past the child’s 18th birthday. As with any legal agreement, it must be fair to both sides in order for a family law judge to approve it. The agreement must also be reached before a divorce is finalized.
If you wish to create an agreement regarding child support for college education, it is important to consider more than tuition. You may also want to include child support obligations for textbooks, housing, traveling expenses, and other costs related to college education.
You can also include different terms regarding payments. For example, your spouse may not want to continue paying you child support when your child is in college. Yet, they may agree to creating a college fund into which you both contribute.
Still, reaching an agreement regarding child support for college expenses can be challenging, particularly if the child is quite young when the parents divorce. Most children do not make decisions regarding college until their later years in high school. This fact alone can make it difficult for parents to reach a decision during the divorce process.
Contact Our Child Support Lawyer in Orlando for Help
Resolving child support issues is never easy. If you reach an agreement with your spouse, it is important to formalize it so disputes do not arise in the future. At Anderson & Ferrin, P.A., our Orlando child support lawyer can negotiate with your spouse on your behalf to help you reach a fair agreement. Call us today at 407-412-7041 or contact us online to schedule an appointment with our seasoned attorney and to get the legal help you need.
Source:
flsenate.gov/laws/statutes/2012/61.30
