A Pennsylvania judge may require you to pay for a portion of your child’s future college expenses in a final divorce settlement. However, the exact amount that you’ll be required to pay depends on a variety of factors such as your income and any language included in an approved parenting plan.
Paying for college can’t cause a financial hardship
As a general rule, a judge won’t require you to pay more than you can afford to contribute to your child’s college education. In some cases, state law will cap the amount that you’re required to contribute regardless of how much your child spends to acquire his or her degree.
Were college expenses accounted for in a parenting plan?
Parents generally have the right to determine how they are going to share the cost of raising their children after the divorce is finalized. Assuming that a judge signs off on the agreement, its terms will typically be enforced unless both parties to the deal agree to modify them.
Can your child cover some of the cost of higher education?
Your child may be asked to shoulder some of the financial burden of acquiring his or her degree. At a minimum, your son or daughter should look into scholarships, grants and other opportunities to defray some of the costs associated with going to college. In many cases, state schools will charge less than private institutions, and students who go to public schools in their home states will receive further relief. It may also be a good idea to encourage your child to attend community college for a year or two.
In many cases, your legal obligation to financially provide for your child ends when he or she reaches the age of majority. However, there may be exceptions to that rule, and an attorney may help to explain how that may impact your long-term financial situation. If your circumstances change after a support order is issued, your attorney may take steps to have its terms modified.