Denton Divorce Attorneys

Does Child Support Include College Expenses?

Whether or not you are required to pay child support for college depends where you live. “College support” can be awarded as a part of child support or a separate payment that starts when child support ends. The funds can be used to fund education at institutions such as colleges, universities, or vocational schools.

The court uses several factors to decide whether or not to order you to pay for college support. Among these are financial resources, the child’s aptitude and goals, parents’ expectations, standard of living of child when parents were not divorced, parents’ level of education, and the education level of siblings. While the specific factors vary by state, the above reflects the majority of considerations.

Your state does not have to require college support for the client to agree to pay college support. The agreement must be in writing and specify each parent’s duties. It may include limitations. Common limitations are caps on an annual payments and definitions of how educational savings accounts be applied.

When determining amounts, it is recommended that the total cost of attending a higher level institution is considered. Tuition is not the only cost a student incurs. Expenses such as room and board, medical and dental insurance, and transportation add up. Also, one can expect tuition to rise steadily over the years.

Contact Us

If you are going through a divorce and would like to provide your children with college support, contact the Denton child support attorneys of Alexander & Associates at 972-420-6560.