when my kids turn 18 do i have to pay for college?

Question

i have paid my support, never missed a payment. they are getting ready to go to college and my ex wants me to pay half of there school

i told her she should of saved some of the money i sent over the years she has gotten like 80,000 from me!!!

Answer 1

In most instances I have seen the child support decree will state that it is monthly support to the age of majority (usually 18) and part of the college tuition.

Refer to your support decree to see if it is mentioned. If not she may still be able to try to get an amendment on the support if she can't pay for the college alone but that doesn't mean that the judge will require it of you.

Ultimately they are your kids and monthly support is supposed to cover monthly expenses (though many times it doesn't). Unfortunately there is no accountability for how the money was spent. But unless the child support decree states you are to help with college you wouldn't be required to to my knowledge.

Answer 2

The amount you have already paid may be a lot or not, depending on how many children you have, what their ages were when you divorced, etc.. You are their father and still responsible for them, are you not? You love them, do you not? You want the best for them, do you not? Why would you balk at paying for their education? Obviously you were ordered to pay a certain amount in child support that was to pay for their support at the time. Why weren't you saving for their college? Both of you should have been and there should have been some discussion about this earlier on. Do what's right and help your kids go to college without making them feel like heels for wanting to go. They can also help by having summer jobs and learning how to live on a budget. If they are accustomed to a certain above average lifestyle, well, that's something you and your ex have taught them. The responsibility is yours and your wife's. You 2 better talk.

Answer 3

I'm 20 and my parents still pay for lots of my stuff. I think it's stupid that at age 18 you'd just abandon your kid and stop giving it financial support. Nowadays, it's a lot harder to find a good job, pay for a home and tuition etc... Being a parent doesn't just end at age 18. It's your duty to love and care for your child until the day you die. Sure, you're not legally obligated to do anything for them, but that's not right. This doesn't mean you need to baby them and pay for their every need, but unless the kid was an absolute brat and a horrible person, I don't see why any parent would just abandon their child financially. It's a tough world, and as a parent, you should be there for your kids, no matter what age they are. Now, I'm not saying that you need to give them everything on a silver platter. Eventually they'll have to go out on their own. Letting them buy their own food, clothes, pay for their insurance etc... is all acceptable.

Answer 4

Reread your divorce papers and see if there is any stated age limit to your financial obligations. Consult your divorce attorney and see what the attorney says. It is possible that legally your obligations end when the children reach 18, and I can tell by your question that you're feeling tired of paying, paying, and paying. *If* you legally have an out, it is your choice to take it or not.

Having said that, I hope that you love your children and want to see that they get the best education possible. I know college gets more and more expensive every year, but you must decide if your children are worth it. If your official obligations end at age 18 for your kids, I hope that you would still want to help because you love your children. You should have some sense of how much your ex-wife can help pay, and perhaps you can set some of your paycheck aside in an account to help.

I understand that you don't like feeling forced to pay, but I hope you love your children that you want the best for them, including education. I hope you can have a civil discussion with your ex-wife and work something out. You might at least set up Cd's at their bank that mature yearly to help, but that's just one possibility.

Please make the right decision for the kids, not just yourself. I can't imagine ever not wanting to help your children even though your court-ordered payment obligation has ended.

Answer 5

This decision depends on many factors:
1) can u afford it.in other words are u making good money?or are u well of?
2) are Ur children brilliant,smart,or lazy and spoiled?
3) what kind of relation do u have with them?
4)did they asked themselves,or its Ur x wife decision?
5) are u married ,have younger children from the new wife/
No one can till u exactly what u should do unless he knows all Ur circumstances.In general its Ur responsibility if u can afford it,and if they are appreciating it,and if they are in good terms with u and always show their love and respect,and also if they are good students.another very important factor is that if u have another little children who needs support and Ur resources are limited,u may decide to offer some assistance if possible.at last if u are well off don't be cheep and pay for their collage.

Answer 6

The money you sent her over the years was to be used to support your children and get them the things they needed. She shouldn't have been saving that money, she should have been spending it on your children, that's what it was for. You are still the childrens father and that role doesn't stop when your kids turn 18. You are their father for life and you should want to continue to help them as much as you can to get a good start in life. Parents don't have to pay for their kids college, but I would think that you would want them to be able to go and you would want to do whatever you can to help them. Don't stop your responsibilites to your kids just because they've turned 18. They still need you in their lives and to know that you still care. Good luck.

Answer 7

What kind of parent are you? Sounds like to me you are putting a $ value on your kids. Oh, I paid up to 18 and now I'm finished. Excuse, me, but just because they are 18 doesn't mean their not your kid anymore. No matter what you HAVE done for them, you should want to continue to help them further their education. Get a grip!!! You're their FATHER, now act like one!!! And as for her saving the money you sent her, how much money do you think it takes to raise 2 kids? The money you sent her was to feed, clothe, put a roof over their head, pay for school extras, gas money to haul them around, buy school supplies, shoes on their feet. I could go on about the cost of raising kids, but obviously you know nothing about it or you would have made that stupid remark. Men want to complain about the money they have to spend on child support, and it really makes me want to ring their necks. If you don't want the responsibilities of fatherhood, don't become a father!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SUPPORT YOU KIDS!! PERIOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 8

You don't HAVE to, no. But it's your child, and you brought it into the world, so you should.

$80,000 is less than half of what it takes to raise a kid for 18 years without thinking about college. Average cost of a single child is over $200,000. Your ex has still footed more of the bill than you have.

You brought that kid into being. You should help it be successful.

Answer 9

I don't think that you have to unless it's part of an agreement, but don't you think it would be the right thing to do? You don't have to give any money to your ex, give the money directly to your kids or to the college. You shouldn't blame your children for their mother's inability to save. You should be proud that your children want to better themselves, get an education and go to college. If you don't help out financially, they still may do it, but without parental help it's very hard and lessens your children's chances of success.

Answer 10

They're your children, not just something you can just throw away because you no longer want to be around them. If you didn't want the responsibility, you should have kept your thing in your pants.

No, you do not HAVE to pay for college, but again, these are your kids, and if they need help, you should, as a parent, help them.