College Expenses

Is The Cost of Your Child’s College Education An Issue In Your Divorce?

Divorce can be a painful and confusing life change for your children. So, how can you be sure that you’ve done everything possible to preserve the normalcy of their lives and honor their best interests? As you navigate the legal process and settlement procedures, seeking insightful guidance from a professional gives you the peace of mind you need to know that every decision you make is informed, thoughtful, and aligned with what matters most: your children’s well-being and future stability.

While custody arrangements, child support, and parenting time are the primary concerns when your child is a minor, financial provision for post-secondary education is another important consideration that must be addressed. If you believe that the key to your child’s future is the promise of an education, you want to do what’s right when it comes to college expense obligations.

According to the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act, parental contribution to a child’s secondary educational expenses is not mandatory. However, a court can order divorced or unmarried parents to cover those expenses. The court also has the authority to decide the proportion of each party’s contribution.

If your family has reached this juncture and provisions for college expenses weren’t previously made, you need a lawyer to guide you through the process and represent your rights and interests.

Michone J. Riewer™: A Qualified College Expenses Lawyer You Can Rely On

The attorneys at Strategic Divorce™ are well-equipped to assist parents in college contribution cases. Michone J. Riewer™ and her team have accumulated decades of experience handling complex family law matters of this kind in Lake County and the greater Chicagoland area. They’ve helped many clients like you resolve financial parentage issues.

Whether arrangements for your child’s college or post-secondary educational expenses are established by agreement, negotiation, or court order, Michone J. Riewer™ can help you:

• Assess the degree of your child’s eligibility for financial contribution
• File or respond to petitions for contribution in family court
• Assess the parents’ and child’s available financial resources for contribution
• Represent you and your interests in negotiations, hearings, or mediation

When Do College Expenses Become An Issue, And How Are They Resolved?

Under Illinois law, a judge can order divorced or unmarried parents to contribute to the cost of their child’s post-secondary education if they have not already made previous arrangements for this expense. These costs include:

• Fees for applications, test prep courses and standardized tests
• Tuition and related fees
• Housing
• Medical and dental expenses
• Books and supplies
• Other reasonable living expenses

How you and your ex will pay for these expenses can arise early on in the divorce process, before the divorce decree is issued. In those instances, provisions for the parents’ contribution may be resolved through negotiation, agreement, or court decree. If there is no resolution at that time, the court may reserve the issue for future determination nearer to the time of your child’s high school graduation.

When there is no prior agreement or judgment regarding college expenses, either parent can file a Petition for Contribution to College or Other Related Educational Expenses in family court. The court will determine how expense contributions will be apportioned based on:

• The present and future financial resources of each parent
• The child’s financial resources, such as scholarships, grants, loans, 529 plans and part-time employment
• Whether the child maintains good academic standing (specifically, at least a “C” average)

While both parents are obligated for college expenses, the court determines each party’s equitable share of that contribution. That determination will depend on the submission of complex paperwork and evidence. An experienced college payment agreement attorney can ensure that your and your ex’s share of the financial burden reflects your respective abilities to pay.

Let Michone J. Riewer™ Help You Prepare For Your Child’s Educational Future

If you’re ready to fulfill your financial obligation to your child, we’re here to help. Michone Riewer has deep knowledge of and experience with the college expense obligations law. She can guide you through the process, helping you settle on an equitable contribution to your child’s education.

Contact Strategic Divorce™ Today To Begin

Be the parent who delivers on their financial obligations. Call Strategic Divorce™ today at (847) 234-4445 or visit our contact page to schedule a free consultation.