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690 Flatbush
Avenue West Hartford, CT 06110-1308
860
236-9350
800 856-6400 toll free 860 523-9101 fax
One Carriage Place
Downtown Waterbury 203 756-6100
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Divorce
and Payment of Children's College Expenses
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As of October 2002,
Connecticut law allows a divorce court to order that
parents pay for their children to attend up to 4 years of
college or an occupational school.
This divorce court order may include any
necessary educational expense, including tuition, fees,
room and board, dues, registration fees, application fees,
books and health insurance.
The divorce court cannot order
payment of educational expenses that would be greater than
what the expenses would be for a full-time, in-state
student at the University of Connecticut. The
parties, however, may agree as part of the divorce
agreement to pay more and
the divorce court can then enforce payment of these higher
amounts.
If an educational support
order is not entered at the time of the divorce, then an
order cannot be entered in the future unless the divorce
decree says that the parties may ask for an order in the
future. Parties often make this part of their
divorce agreement so that if they cannot agree on paying
for college when their children grow up, they can ask the
divorce court to decide.
If the divorce decree is by
agreement (that is, without a trial), then the parties
have three choices in regard to an educational support
order.
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They can agree on a
specific order that states what amounts are to be paid
by each parent. |
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They can agree an order
will enter later on and the amounts to be paid by each
parent will be decided later on. |
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They can agree an
educational support order will never be entered. |
Either party may ask the
divorce court for modification of an existing educational support
order.
An educational support order
cannot be used to pay for postgraduate education.
Payments due under an
educational support order must be made if:
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The child is enrolled in an accredited
college or occupational school. |
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The child is taking at least one-half the
normal course load for a full-time student at the
school. |
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The child remains in good academic standing. |
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The child makes his grades available to both
parents. |
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The child is younger than 23 years of age. |
To enter an educational
support order, the divorce court must take into
consideration:
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Whether
the
parents would have paid for college if there had been
no divorce. |
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The parents' income, assets and other
obligations, including obligations to other children. |
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The
child's assets and ability to earn income. |
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The
availability of financial aid from other sources,
including grants and loans. |
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The
reasonableness of the higher education considering the
child's academic record. |
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The
child's preparation for, aptitude for and commitment
to higher education. |
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The school the child plans to attend, if
known. |
When You Need a
Connecticut Divorce
Lawyer,
Rely on Us for Skill,
Determination and Experience.
DIVORCE AND FAMILY LAW
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West
Hartford Divorce Lawyers
Waterbury
Divorce Lawyers
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Divorce Lawyers
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Britain Divorce Lawyers
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Please note that our law firm's website is designed to provide only
general legal information.
This information is not intended to be legal advice for your
individual situation.
Call
us for personal injury, Social Security, divorce, bankruptcy,
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John
Serrano |
Gabriel
Serrano |
Serrano & Serrano, LLC
Connecticut Attorneys
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