College Expenses
Can A Court Order Your Co-Parent To Contribute To College Expenses?
At Langer & Langer we know selecting and paying for a child’s college education can be a daunting task, which becomes all the more complicated when you are trying to make these decisions with an ex-spouse or ex-partner. Under Indiana Law, a court can enter educational support orders that require parents to contribute to their child’s college expenses.
Any modification to a child support agreement is best accomplished with the assistance of a skilled family law attorney. Our experienced child support lawyers can guide you through the process of petitioning the court, ensuring that you present the strongest argument for tuition contributions.
What Does A Court Consider When Deciding To Order College Expenses?
When a court is determining whether to order parents to contribute to a child’s college expenses, considerations include:
- The child’s aptitude and ability
- The child’s reasonable ability to contribute to educational expenses through work and loans
- The availability of financial aid to the child and parents
- The ability of each parent to meet these expenses
Once a court has established a legal duty to support a child through a court order, either parent may request a contribution to their child’s college expenses. Generally speaking, a petition for contribution to educational expenses must be on file prior to the child’s 19th birthday. However, if the duty to support a child was established through a court order prior to June 30, 2012, a petition for educational needs must be filed prior to the child’s 21st birthday.
Get Answers To Your Child Support Questions In An Initial Consultation
Langer & Langer is based in Valparaiso and serves clients throughout the surrounding areas of Indiana. To schedule a consultation with one of our knowledgeable family law attorneys, call us at 219-246-4759 or submit an online contact form.
