What are the laws on paying for college after divorce?

Full question:

What are the laws regarding paying for your child's college education in a divorce situation. She is 20 years of age. What does she need to provide me to continue making me pay a third of her tuition?

  • Category: Divorce
  • Subcategory: Child Support
  • Date:
  • State: California

Answer:

In California, there is no law requiring parents to pay for a child's college education after they turn eighteen. However, many divorce agreements include provisions for college expenses. If your divorce decree specifies that you must pay a portion of your child's tuition, the court can enforce this obligation even if your child is now an adult.

Your divorce agreement may outline what documentation your child needs to provide to prove tuition expenses. If it doesn't specify, you can request copies of tuition bills and other related expenses from your ex-spouse. If they do not provide this information, you may be able to obtain it directly from the college.

This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.

FAQs

In general, parents are not legally obligated to pay for their child's college education once the child turns eighteen. However, specific obligations can arise from divorce agreements or court orders that may require parents to contribute to college expenses. It's essential to review any legal documents related to the divorce to understand your responsibilities.