Post-Secondary / College Support

When a child graduates from high school, they often decide to seek higher education in college or other post-secondary school. While it is often assumed that children will typically be required to ‘make their own way’ or rely on the voluntary support of one or both parents, that is not always the case. In most situations, the courts can and typically requires that the parents share some or all of the expenses associated with this type of higher education.

There are many factors that the court considers when awarding post-secondary education.  The court will consider whether the child is in fact dependent and is relying on the parents for reasonable necessities of life. The court also considers the age of the child; the child’s needs; the expectations of the parties for their children when the parents were together; the child’s prospects, desires, aptitudes, abilities or disabilities; the nature of the postsecondary education sought; the parent’s level of education, standard of living, and the current and future resources. Also, the amount and type of support that the child would have been afforded if the parents had stayed together will be considered.