Tag Archive for: divorce and college tuition

PA Divorce – Forced To Pay for College?

Divorcing your spouse raises many questions about how you will handle future tasks involved in raising your child. One important question you need to consider now is: “How will we handle paying for our child’s college education?”

Some states have laws requiring parents to contribute to payments for higher education. Learn how these laws affect your PA divorce and other considerations you should discuss now. 

Does Pennsylvania Require Divorcing Parents To Pay for Their Child’s College?

Twenty-four states across the U.S. — including New Jersey and New York — have laws about parents financially contributing to a child’s higher education, but Pennsylvania is not one of them. This means that in a divorce, neither parent will have a legal obligation to pay for or contribute to a child’s college education. Instead, you’ll look to your divorce agreement to determine how to approach this matter. 

You and your soon-to-be-ex-spouse have the right to determine how you will split future financial endeavors involving your shared children. If you cannot agree on these issues, a judge may help you decide when creating your parenting plan. It’s always better to work out an agreement on your own or with an attorney instead of letting a judge decide for you. 

Creating a Parenting Plan That Includes College Tuition 

When you work with an experienced Pennsylvania divorce attorney, they can help you create a reasonable parenting plan that covers how you and your spouse will handle financial contributions for college. This agreement must hold up long into the future, which can be challenging. You’ll need to be as specific as possible to avoid confusion and disagreements down the line.

Be sure to discuss all of the following when creating your parenting plan: 

  • Type of school (private or state)
  • Textbooks, room and board, and other expenses
  • University vs. trade school

What If You Don’t Discuss College in the Parenting Plan? 

If your child is only a few years old at the time of your PA divorce, their college education may be the furthest thought from your mind. So, what happens if you fail to address this matter in your parenting plan? 

You and your child’s other parent can attempt to reach an agreement privately about how you will split college expenses, but this may not be wise. It’s better to create a written agreement and sign it in the presence of a notary. 

You can modify your parenting plan by filing a motion with the court. The court can intervene if both parents do not consent to the modification.

Remember that child support obligations only extend until a child turns 18 in Pennsylvania. You may decide to purposefully leave college out of your parenting plan and agree that your child will pay for their own college. Whatever you do, discuss it now to avoid headaches later on. 

Seek Assistance With PA Divorce Agreements From Karen Ann Ulmer, P.C. 

Do you need help drafting a divorce agreement, understanding equitable distribution in a divorce, or determining the custodial parent? Karen Ann Ulmer, P.C., offers compassionate legal support through your entire divorce. Call (866) 349-4117 for a confidential consultation.

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College and Divorce: Covering Kids’ Tuition and Other Costs

Just because you and your soon-to-be ex-spouse are ending your marriage doesn’t mean your kids can’t still receive a college education. You should, however, devise a plan regarding college and divorce to ensure your kids can afford to enroll one day.

See how to accomplish this goal below.

Who Pays College Tuition for Kids Following a Divorce?

In a perfect world, divorced parents with kids wouldn’t have to worry about who would pay for their children’s college tuition since the school would provide enough financial aid and scholarships to cover those costs.

In reality, most situations involving college and divorce are more complicated and involve some level of financial investment. It isn’t always clear which parent should pay for college-related expenses, leading to confusion and, in some cases, resentment.

You and your ex-spouse should be on the same page as far as who will cover which college costs. In some cases, one of you might be in a financial position that allows you to cover significantly more costs than the other. However, you might also need to agree to fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form with your kids to take out loans to pay for their schooling.

Do Child Support Payments Continue When Kids Attend College?

When a married couple with kids chooses to divorce, they usually come up with a custody agreement. As part of it, one parent typically agrees to pay the other child support until their kids turn 18.

However, you and your ex-spouse might decide to extend child support payments beyond this point and use them to pay for your kids’ college tuition. This could turn into one parent’s contribution while the other pays out of pocket for additional expenses.

How Can You and Your Ex-Spouse Plan Ahead for College?

Married couples ready to divorce shouldn’t wait until their kids are college-aged to figure out who will pay for higher education. Instead, they should talk about their expectations for paying for college while working on their initial divorce settlement.

Whether your kids are still small or on the verge of going to college in a few years, make the proper plans for paying for their college educations in advance. This will prevent you from having to scramble to come up with last-minute solutions to dealing with college and divorce.

Call Karen Ann Ulmer, P.C., To Assist With Your Divorce

When it comes to who pays for college and divorce, there aren’t any definitive laws. It’s one of the many instances in which divorced couples must set their feelings for one another aside and do what’s right for their kids.

Karen Ann Ulmer, P.C., can help make this possible. Call (866) 311-4783 to learn about your options.

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