Raising children into adulthood is never cheap. It can become more costly when parents also have to maintain two separate households. With more costs to cover but the same income, parents sometimes struggle to maintain the same standard of living after they divorce or separate.
It is common for one parent to pay child support to make financial circumstances more even between the two homes. The overall division of parenting time and the income of both parents can influence how much support one parent provides. Those who have competitive salaries may pay far more than those just getting by on low wages. Their income could even help cover college costs.
Child support ends before college
Typically, child support orders last until a child graduates from high school or turns 19. If a child previously subject to shared custody enrolls in college, child support typically is not available to cover their expenses.
Even if child support continued into the college years, the amount that the courts require could fall far short of the cost of college tuition. Even affordable state schools charge almost $10,000 per year for tuition alone.
If separated or divorced parents want to ensure that their children can afford a higher education, they may want to discuss the matter and negotiate an arrangement between themselves to cover those costs. Doing so as part of broader custody or divorce negotiations can be beneficial for the entire family.
Learning about the rules and limitations of child support can help parents overcome the challenges of parenting separately. High-earning parents can help pay for their children’s college, but child support usually isn’t part of that assistance.
