We can’t walk into a store without a reminder that summer is winding down, which must mean that back-to-school season is nearly upon us.
Parents who can agree on things can decide to support their children’s post-secondary education or let the kids pay for college or other programs on their own. Parents who can’t agree may find themselves being forced to pay for college (in NJ). Regardless of why a parent is paying for college
Divorce can complicate the transition to college for families. Having a plan, better still, a detailed, written agreement in place, can make all the difference. This is often easier said than done, but preparation and planning are important.
Co-parents who communicate and cooperate amicably have better outcomes in many areas, and this is also true when it comes to college planning, payment, move-in, and everything else that goes along with sending a child to college.
By the time kids are going to college, they may legally be adults. That does not mean that a child should be involved in the conversations about how parents are paying for college or supporting the child financially during college. Kids can absolutely be involved in a general conversation about how college is being paid, especially if the child is participating in paying any of the costs. Kids should also be included in discussions about budgeting and what funds will be available to them during school, but they should be kept out of any disagreement between the parents and it is not important that kids know precisely which parent is paying for what or how much.
College expenses are so much more than tuition and fees. Many schools provide a breakdown of estimated expenses, which can be helpful, but are not necessarily completely accurate for every family. Just like child support guidelines are based on averages, a college’s suggestion of “other” expenses, beyond tuition, fees, housing, meal plan, and books, does not always accurately reflect a family’s reality. Usually that estimate is a reasonable approximation of a minimum of “extras” that a college kid will incur, but many families find that a child’s basic budget, even while they are away at school, is much higher.
In New Jersey, parents remain obligated to financially support a child who is enrolled full-time in a college program, as long as they have not been emancipated for some other reason (marriage, military enlistment, for instance). This means that parents can be on the hook for college tuition and other expenses, along with other child support and financial support for the unemancipated child.
Striving for amicable and healthy co-parenting before college discussions and decisions are happening can help parents limit disputes and conflict around the college conversations. Agreeing in advance with clarity as to how generally foreseeable expenses will be divided can help also. Co-parenting does not end when a kid goes to college, just like a parent’s job does not end just because a kid is growing up and branching out.
Whether and how much parents will have to pay for college and child support for a child who is in college is a very fact-sensitive question. Our experienced attorneys can guide and counsel parents to help them understand what may be required of them and how to best plan and prepare.