My gf's father promised to pay for her college education. Now, even though he has the money, does not want to pay (even though she is already enrolled) for random reasons. Can she sue her parents for help with bills because of a promised verbal agreement? PLEASE HELP!
2006-09-21 12:19:04 · 20 answers · asked by Chuck N 2 in Education & Reference ➔ Financial Aid
You cannot sue over a verbal agreement, even within a family.
However, if there was a specific amount of money set aside in a trust fund or a college fund, and the parent borrowed from this and did not pay it back, then the college-going person might have legal grounds to sue.
I'd like to know more about those "random reasons". I think your girlfriend and her parent(s) need to sit down and talk about her expectations to go to college, versus their financial state. Your gf may not get 100% of her college paid for, but there are many ways to go to college -- grants, loans, work-study, etc. She needs to talk to her college financial aid officer, AFTER she talks to her parent(s) and gets a clearer picture of what they can or cannot afford.
Don't worry -- college is within your reach. But I do think you need more answers from both her parents and from a college financial aid officer, then you'll be able to make better decisions.
Cheers, K
2006-09-21 12:23:50 · answer #1 · answered by Kate 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No, she can't.
I'm sure that would do wonders for their relationship.
A lot of people have had to abandon big college dreams for a job and a local community college. It sure makes the education mean more when you pay for it yourself.
The only other thing that remotely comes to mind is I remember when my sister-in-law got divorced her ex was forced to pay for college. I believe under the law there is an assumption if one or both of the parents went to college that the child would get the same education, so he was forced to pay a portion of it. I have no idea if it's like that everywhere or if that would even apply. But if there were a divorced situation, the mother would have to take action against the father.
2006-09-21 12:29:44 · answer #2 · answered by Chris 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am not an attorney and I do not play one on TV....BUT I would doubt your Girlfriend has any case at all. The law is pretty clear that a parents obligations end at the age of 18. The only things she is entitled to from her parents if she is in college are health care covereage to age 24 (they can drop that to) and the privledge of reporting her parents income on her financial aid forms and thereby not be able to receive certain forms of aid.
Unfortunately I would doubt any sane lawyer would take on this case. She can appeal to the University's Financial Aid department if she needs funds and they can re-evaluate her situation. The good thing here is Universities have flexibility in your financial aid. This is not a process that is solely reliant on computers to decide. The information from the FAFSA creates a profile and a bunch of numbers that the financial aid department put into a computer and it decides on the aid your QUALIFY for. It tells them if you can get the free money (grants) or if you have to go into huge amounts of debt that you can never pay back through loans. Beyond that, the financial aid office is able to use judgement and can evaluate a student on an individual basis. No financial aid department will DENY this opporutnity but they will not come looking for you either.
2006-09-21 12:29:21 · answer #3 · answered by REDJR 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A promise is not the same as a contract. If you had a contract, you could sue for breach of the contract and recover your damages. As there are no financial dmamages, you would recover one dollar. You won't get that dollar because the promise is not a contract. If you want a sperm donor, find one who is reliable and honest.
2016-03-27 01:25:52 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
People sue for stupid reasons all the time. Stupid is as stupid does
Suing your parents?! Low classy My mother jerked my around plenty but to sue her? Please - it kills her that I did it on my own. heheh
She sounds like a spoiled brat If she is serious about getting a college education, do what the rest of us did - Apply for loans. or get a job.
I worked through college just like many of us did.
2006-09-21 12:27:15 · answer #5 · answered by justsaynotogrumps 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
She can sue as long as he admits or you have a third party who witnessed the verbal agreement. Otherwise you have no case.
2006-09-21 12:28:30 · answer #6 · answered by life_television 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yeah right! What are the random reasons?If the father said he would pay and has the money to pay then there must be some(RANDOM) reasons....Probably your friend screwed up,did something that made her father not trust her or something.I don,t think a father would do that for no reason......If she did a BIG screw uo No they would laugh at her
2006-09-21 12:27:50 · answer #7 · answered by slickcut 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
well depends may be she did something to to her parents and thats y they dont want to give her n e thing, if she is spoiled then she shoudl pay for her own colleger after all they do offer financial aid and scholarships and i tell u because i work my butt of to pay for my school and do not depent on no one for that... and no do not sue
2006-09-21 12:26:10 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
OMG. What has the freakin world come to when you sue your own family for money? NO YOU CANNOT SUE under the circumstances you gave. And besides, your question is really a mess.
2006-09-21 12:22:05 · answer #9 · answered by ravin_lunatic 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Verbal contracts are absolutely enforceable, but this is not a verbal contract, it's a gratuitous promise; it lacks consideration required to make it a contract.
2014-03-03 13:46:22 · answer #10 · answered by Dana 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋