Are you trying to figure out who is responsible for paying for college after divorce? In Texas, child support obligations end when a child turns 18 or graduates high school, whichever comes first. That means child support likely stops about the same time the child is headed off to college.
So, who pays for college after divorce in Texas? It depends on if you and your ex-spouse have a binding agreement in writing. In this blog post, we will discuss the basics of child support and college tuition in Texas and answer some frequently asked questions about paying for college after divorce.
Aren’t college expenses part of the child support obligation?
However, if you and your ex agree to pay for college as part of your divorce settlement, child support agreement, or a post-nuptial agreement, the court will usually enforce that agreement – which is sometimes referred to as a “college support agreement.” For example, if you and your ex agreed in writing that you would pay 60 percent of the child’s college expenses and the other party would pay 40 percent, that agreement can be upheld by a Texas court.
What should be included in a “college support agreement?”
What if we only had a verbal agreement about paying for college after divorce?
What if we don’t have a written agreement and can’t agree on who should pay college expenses?
Paying for College after Divorce – Recap
The Texas Family Code does not address college tuition for good reason. The Code is primarily focused on providing for minors – individuals under the age of 18 (but longer if the child has not graduated from high school).
Texas courts will, however, enforce marital settlement agreements and post-nuptial agreements – so at the time of divorce, this is an important matter to consider and try to resolve. It often makes sense to set up this type of contractual obligation at the time of divorce.
If you are considering an agreement regarding college tuition, you should consider including:
- the percentage each parent is responsible for paying;
- a ceiling or cap with regards to the total amount for which each parent is responsible;
- whether or not the parent will pay for any college or set limitations such as private, public, or within a set geographic area.
Questions about child support and college tuition?
If you have questions about paying for college after divorce or seeking a college support agreement, it’s important to contact an experienced family law attorney in your area. An attorney can help you understand your rights and options under the law. If you reside in North Texas and would like to schedule a consultation with an experienced family law attorney, please call Varghese Summersett Family Law Group at 817-900-3220.
