Am I Legally Obligated to Pay For My Child’s College?
I recently received this question from an individual whose child graduated from high school early, at 17-years-old. The child is still living at home and the child is now getting ready to embark into his college career. The mother was concerned that she is obligated to pay for the child’s college because the child is still living at home and after graduated high school early.
So is the custodial parent obligated to pay for their child’s tuition? The answer to this question is a definitive, “no.” Neither parent is legally obligated to pay for a child’s college tuition or college expenses. The only rare exception may be that if prior to their children starting college, the parents make an agreement that either one individually or both of parents will be responsible for paying the child’s tuition. Even in this case, the agreement is not legally-binding unless it is put into a formal document, signed, and filed with the court.
To summarize, regardless of divorce, a change in custody, change in child support, or various other family law circumstances, no parent ever becomes automatically obligated to pay for their child’s college tuition or expenses, unless otherwise noted in a legally-binding, court-ordered document.
If you have questions regarding divorce, child custody, child support, or another Family Law topic, do not hesitate to contact our office to discuss your particular situation in detail. Our office can be reached at (702) 998-1188, info@ljlawlv.com, or by scheduling a consultation online.
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