Helping your child secure an education is one of the most important things that you can do as a parent. Unfortunately, college tuition is prohibitively expensive, which means your child won’t be able to pay it alone right out of high school.
It costs tens of thousands of dollars to finance a higher education, and your income factors into what federal student aid your children can qualify for. For those planning a divorce, concerns about covering the cost of college are common. Is it possible for you to request child support that lasts for as long as you will have to pay college tuition in a Texas divorce?
When does child support usually end?
According to the existing laws in Texas, standard child support arrangements typically end when a child turns 18 or when they graduate high school. For families with children who have special needs, child support may last for as long as the child remains dependent on their parents for care and support. While these rules are the standard in Texas divorces, you and your ex can theoretically make arrangements to share college costs.
You can negotiate terms that include college contributions
It is possible for your child support agreement or divorce decree to obligate the parent paying child support to continue making contributions during a child’s college career. Typically, these situations are the result of negotiations between parents or their attorneys. The courts generally will not order child support through college unless specially requested as part of the terms of the divorce and agreed upon by the parents.