Can my ex-husband get away with not paying college tuition? He says he has no money.?

Question

To begin with, If I could do it all myself, I would but the reality is that I can't. This is our daughters second year in college. The first year hasn't been so bad.....but now I have another loan, and I am down right frustrated. Two years ago our youngest daughter got braces. I ask him back then to help me with the $3000 bill and he stated that i shouldn't of taken her for braces, that it was a cosmetic thing. Now I wasn't going to tell my daughter that she couldn't get her gap between her front teeth fixed. So as you guessed I paid that off. Now I have tried to do the paperwork for an increase in child support its 22 pages long! I have tried to get a lawyer but they want $150 just for the 1st visit. I don't know what other avenue I can take. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

Yes. The law states that the bond of child support ends at 18. If she is in collage, reguardless of age, she is concidered an adult. Collage, may be a requirement to have a good life, but not a nessessity in legal views. Second, he is right, Braces is cosmetic, and should have not been gotten, if it was going to cost the collage education that you want this child to have. Braces is something could be done, in adulthood, fixed then. Now not that is dosn't help the emotional, self esteam of one young, wanting perfect teeth, but not a neccessity in this stage of life. Now if you think your going to get more support, you have to have a basis more then, my kid needed braces, and it hurt my other, or that childs, collage education. And as much as I understand your feelings, wanting a child to feel good about themself, and give one  a collage degree, this is no dout created by you. Your duaghter can try for Finical aid. She may not get any, if you, and her father makes to much. There is also student loans. Hard to pay back some times, but you wouldn't have to worry about the collage bill for now, and she could pay them back herself, after school. It is your duaghters responsibility to pay for collage. The parents only feel a obligantion, couse of the fact they are the parents. If you can't afford it, then you can't afford it. She has to switch schools, or find other means to pay for it like loans. Now each state has a legal aid. Free legal services, depending on reasons of need. Facts are facts hun. There is no grounds for what I hear for a revisit of child support. If the braces was already paid for, then there is nothing unless he is makeing more money then before. But if it is true, he hasn't got the money, then your support could be lowered.  

Answer 2

You are still getting child support for a child in college?  Is she still 18?  I don't believe they are required to pay any support after the child is 18.

Answer 3

No.  Kids cost a ton....$250,000 to age 18 with nothing extra... and every child deserves a chance to become all it can be... the kid never asked to be born.  As well, that kid can get a job, and take out her own loan.... she likely 19.  And in most states, that makes her an adult.....

If your husband does not feel a need to contribute to her beyond age 18, it it likely he is legally correct.... and sweetie, most kids now work, and it may take longer to get that degree, or for her to make payments on her braces,  but better that than you age and have no IRA.  Kids appreciate things better if they have to help pay for it.

Answer 4

I think that paying for college is optional - unless it is in the divorce settlement.  Braces may be included in medical expenses - but I'm not sure.  I thought that support stopped when the child turned 18.

Answer 5

Complete the modification application.  A judge will decide if you can get more support or if he has to pay some college fees (don't expect it to go your way).  

Regarding the braces issue, you can NOT make bills and expect him to pay or pay a portion without discussing it with him first.  He should be involved in financial decisions that may affect him and him being their dad is not reason enough to think he should pay.

I do understand what your going through and bottom line he should want to help pay for his child to go through college without the courts getting involved but he is not THAT kind of dad obviously.

Answer 6

You can sit down and work through those 22 pages, one page at a time. 22 pages is less than an average newspaper.

If it's important enough to you, you'll work through it. No one said it was easy, but if you really want to change the child support agreement, you'll just sit down one day and do it.

Answer 7

Depending on the age, State laws.  In my state he is required to pay child support untill the child is out of college BUT is not required to pay any tuition because the Young adult (at that age they sould) should have a job and taking care of there selfs as much as possible.

I know you prefer him to help out at least HALF.   I am a firm believer in a Youngster having a job and responsibilities.  

Answer 8

Your city will have a Legal Aid office, or if you call your state Bar association they can give you information on attorneys who work with Legal Aid.   So if you need a lawyer, you can get one.

Braces just to close the gap in her front teeth?  Were the braces your idea or her idea?  Unless the rest of her bite was out of alignment, orthodontists don't do braces for gaps in the front teeth.  Your family dentist does acrylic bonding or a veneer.  Looks just like her teeth, the front teeth don't appear to have gotten any larger, doesn't take any drilling or molds or models, and is a heck of a lot cheaper than braces.  I know .... I had one and I BEGGED my dentist to send me to an orthodontist.  Had the acrylic bonding done in 1986 and now even my mom doesn't remember what the gap looked like.

As for college.  Get the lawyer, because they can find out about his income and assets.  You also need your original divorce and custody and child support agreements.  I know more than one woman who had an agreement that her ex was to pay child support until the child was 18, and then pay 100% of in-state college tuition, fees, and books ... and when the child turned 18, Dad had a new wife and 3 or 4 new kids and he just couldn't shell out the money that was supposed to have been getting set aside for 10 years or more.  One lady fought her ex in court and ended up getting the money a couple of years later, and another just kept working 2 and 3 jobs because fighting her ex wasn't going to get her a penny no matter what the court said or did.

Good luck.