General Discussion

Orrex

(67,283 posts)

70. Thanks again for the link

Tue Aug 6, 2013, 02:44 PM

Aug 2013

What if the divorced parent dies, and the will makes no provision for the child's tuition? Can the estate be compelled to pay?

What if, following the divorce, the custodial parent loses the home to foreclosure despite the non-custodial parent's payment of mandated support. The children clearly have an expectation of housing--can the non-custodial parent be compelled to provide such housing in excess of payments already mandated?

From the dozen or states that I've now read, one conclusion is inescapable: the law is wildly inconsistent from one state to the next. What if, immediately post-divorce, the non-custodial parent moves to Pennsylvania? Can he or she be forced to pay tuition for the adult child in Illinois?

Such inconsistency helps no one.

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I am shocked--shocked that SC doesn't require the noncustodial parent to pay for college for their [View all] raccoon Aug 2013 OP

I am curious newfie11 Aug 2013 #1

Individual judges can and do order it, when the non-custodial parent has assets pnwmom Aug 2013 #28

Why should divorced parents be mandated to pay for college, when still-married parents aren't? Sheldon Cooper Aug 2013 #37

The still-married parents who don't probably haven't raised that child to expect college. pnwmom Aug 2013 #42

Ridiculous. Sheldon Cooper Aug 2013 #44

Read this and weep: pnwmom Aug 2013 #50

I rather doubt any state does that Spider Jerusalem Aug 2013 #2

States may not but individual judges can and do. pnwmom Aug 2013 #29

Why should the parent be required to pay for an adult's education? Orrex Aug 2013 #41

In BC, in most cases, non-custodial parents must continue to pay child support after age 19... OnlinePoker Aug 2013 #60

I read a set of divorce paperwork pretty much every single working day. Socal31 Aug 2013 #82

Do they require custodial parents or MineralMan Aug 2013 #3

Not to my knowledge. I found this on the subject of paying for college when parents are divorced. raccoon Aug 2013 #4

Michigan doesn't by law. knitter4democracy Aug 2013 #5

In Michigan support can go to age 19 and a half for a full time student. pnwmom Aug 2013 #76

As far as I know, that only applies to high school. knitter4democracy Aug 2013 #84

Post removed Post removed Aug 2013 #6

College aged = adult Nuclear Unicorn Aug 2013 #7

Lots of them give judges that power. Are you aware that federal college aid forms pnwmom Aug 2013 #30

The law may expect a parental contribution, but it doesn't mandatte it. Sheldon Cooper Aug 2013 #38

But a judge can mandate it in many states. pnwmom Aug 2013 #40

That is a ridiculous point. Sheldon Cooper Aug 2013 #43

Of course it wouldn't be fair for the youngest child of a well-off parent to be the only sibling pnwmom Aug 2013 #46

Your little brother's story changes nothing, as I've said. Sheldon Cooper Aug 2013 #51

Your stubborn insistence does nothing to change the fact that it is COMMON pnwmom Aug 2013 #55

In fact, it is a ridiculous point Orrex Aug 2013 #53

When a student is already a sophomore in college at the time of the divorce, pnwmom Aug 2013 #66

Thanks again for the link Orrex Aug 2013 #70

I agree that the state laws are all over the place. pnwmom Aug 2013 #71

LOL. Sad but true. Orrex Aug 2013 #74

Granting judicial discretion is a far cry from the sort of legal requirement to which the OP eludes Nuclear Unicorn Aug 2013 #78

AFAIK, no state requires that. Deep13 Aug 2013 #8

Some states actually do. pnwmom Aug 2013 #63

PA used to, no longer Freddie Aug 2013 #9

I suppose education is not such a high priority there LiberalEsto Aug 2013 #10

Why are you singling out South Carolina? nt B2G Aug 2013 #31

I was divorced in Ohio and there's no mention of college expenses in the sinkingfeeling Aug 2013 #11

I'd be more shocked if a state required parents to pay for college. Dr. Strange Aug 2013 #12

So.....they can pay for college themselves like the rest of us?? cbdo2007 Aug 2013 #13

Day I turned 18 I was told it's YOYO time. hobbit709 Aug 2013 #14

IMO make it between the student and each parent treestar Aug 2013 #15

For many years the noncustodial parent has been allowed to divorce his/her children as easily as jwirr Aug 2013 #16

I don't think any state, conservative or liberal, should force Sheldon Cooper Aug 2013 #17

I think helping to contribute to getting your child "launched" into adulthood IdaBriggs Aug 2013 #18

Exactly. If you are able to help your child (read: you're very wealthy), great. Go for it. Common Sense Party Aug 2013 #33

Yah. Someone who gets it. joeglow3 Aug 2013 #45

A student can't apply for Federal loans or grants unless a parent fills out financial aid papers pnwmom Aug 2013 #80

The 'liberal' state of Maryland does not either. What is your point? nt kelly1mm Aug 2013 #19

When states require parents who are not divorced kiva Aug 2013 #20

I agree. I think this is an equal protection issue. I'm paying for my non-custodial daughter's stevenleser Aug 2013 #36

This is my take on it, too - kiva Aug 2013 #39

Does any state force any parents (noncustodial or custodial, married or non-married) to pay that? tammywammy Aug 2013 #21

Many states allow judges to decide whether a parent should pay for college costs. pnwmom Aug 2013 #81

Stop and think for a minute... cthulu2016 Aug 2013 #22

No state requires any parent to support a child beyond 18. DuaneBidoux Aug 2013 #23

My state can and does exactly this. lumberjack_jeff Aug 2013 #47

Wrong. Many states either require support for college students or allow judges to do so. pnwmom Aug 2013 #52

Link? Orrex Aug 2013 #54

I put a link in my post. How could you miss it? n/t pnwmom Aug 2013 #56

Your link doesn't work. tammywammy Aug 2013 #57

Whoa--that's what it said when I clicked on it, too! Orrex Aug 2013 #58

Here's the direct link. pnwmom Aug 2013 #62

It's interesting that some states still think unequal protection is A-OK. Orrex Aug 2013 #64

It all depends on how you look at it. pnwmom Aug 2013 #68

"Children in different families have never been treated equally." Orrex Aug 2013 #73

I'm the OP (for this subthreat). I'm happy to be corrected. DuaneBidoux Aug 2013 #85

Sorry, it's post #48, way down at the bottom. pnwmom Aug 2013 #61

In Mo. Go Vols Aug 2013 #24

Secondary is High School exboyfil Aug 2013 #27

I was responding to the claim Go Vols Aug 2013 #32

Thanks for the clarification exboyfil Aug 2013 #49

In Missouri non-custodial parents can be required to pay for college costs, too. pnwmom Aug 2013 #59

When I divorced in Illinois Silver Swan Aug 2013 #25

As soon as my grand daughter turned 18 her father quit paying anything for her in Virginia. My appleannie1 Aug 2013 #26

I am shocked--SHOCKED--to find anti-Southern, bigoted flamebait on DU. Common Sense Party Aug 2013 #34

It's not that common unless one party is pretty well-off Yo_Mama Aug 2013 #35

The case law in my state came about because of a father who could easily afford it pnwmom Aug 2013 #77

FYI. Here is a list of child support requirements for college by state: pnwmom Aug 2013 #48

Corporations haven't figured out how to make a buck off it yet. Gidney N Cloyd Aug 2013 #65

I am a reluctant Carolina Aug 2013 #67

Actually, a judge in South Carolina MAY REQUIRE a parent to pay for college. pnwmom Aug 2013 #69

"may require" Carolina Aug 2013 #72

You're right. In most states there isn't a blanket requirement -- it's up to the judge. pnwmom Aug 2013 #75

There are states that require parents to pay for college for their kids? I had to pay for mine Recursion Aug 2013 #79

Why should ANY parent be required to pay for their kid's college? taught_me_patience Aug 2013 #83