As a non-custodial parent can I be forced to pay half of my children's college expenses?
Question Details:
I was a housewife for 18 years when my husband and I divorced. It was an abusive marriage (to say the least) and I am now in the process of starting my life over. I am currently attending college and will graduate in 2 years. I am paying my own way through college right now and I hope to be financially independent by the time my kids start college. They are currently 12 and 14. I hope to be able to help them if needed but I know that I will be paying off my own student loans and don't want to be obligated to pay for their college as well. Starting my life over at 40 is hard enough and I have no retirement savings.
There are only several states which extend the child support obligation to college tuitions. In majority states such as California, unless you specifically agree to pay for the college tuition, you have no such obligation and your child support payment may be stopped after age of 18 by a court order.
