Under Wyoming law, can a parent use their child’s income to pay for the expenses of the child’s education?

Full question:

My 16 year old son doesn't spend a penny from his pocket even though he gets enough money from his rented houses. Now that my son wants to go another state for college and I do not earn enough to pay for his education, can I use his income to pay for his education expenses?

• Category: Minors
• Date: 04/07/2025
• State: Wyoming

Answer:

Yes, you ask your son to pay for his higher education from the income that he gets from the rented houses. In Wyoming, if a minor owns a property that generates income sufficient for his maintenance and education, and the parent of such child is not able to pay for the child's education and other expenses, then the minor’s education expenses can be paid out of the income of the minor’s own property.

Wyo. Stat. § 14-2-201 reads:
 

“Any minor having a living parent and owning property with income sufficient for his maintenance and education in a manner more expensive than his parent can reasonably afford, regard given to the situation of the parent's family and to all circumstances of the case, the expenses of the minor's education and maintenance may be defrayed out of the income of the minor's own property in whole or in part, as judged reasonable and as directed by the court. The charges for maintenance and education may be allowed accordingly in the settlements of the accounts of the minor's guardian.”