Divorce Advice for Men | Fathers Rights Divorce | Child Custody

Question:

My divorce decree states I am responsible for paying college tuition for four years of college for each of my children.

I feel it is a violation of fathers rights to be forced to pay for college tuition.

What are my rights? Can this provision to pay for college tuition be reversed?

Question:

My state's child support laws are requiring me to help pay for my child's college tuition.

Many years ago, my wife's parents set up investment accounts for our child with the general understanding that this money was to pay for a college education, though it was never put in writing.

My soon-to-be-ex feels that since the money originated from her side of the family it is only to be used to help defray her cost of paying for our child's college. I think the money should be used for its intended purpose and then my wife and I would split any extra costs.

Do child support laws state that if the child has assets in her name that those assets should be consumed first before the remaining costs are split by the parents?

Question:

I am looking for financial advice on divorce in regards to college expenses and tax credits.

I no longer pay child support but I would like to contribute to my daughter's college education. It is my understanding that I cannot claim tuition that I pay because she is not my dependent.

However, can my ex-wife fill out a tax form that allows me to claim my daughter or the college tax credit?

By Andrea Johnson

Attorney, Cordell & Cordell

Because the courts typically consider children to no longer be minors beyond the age of 18, the courts cannot order a parent to pay college expenses.

This is because the courts cannot in their discretion order support for an adult.

Parties can, by agreement, include provisions that provide for the payment of college expenses, though.

However, if such a provision is included in a divorce settlement, it is not a modifiable provision.

Question:

Our original divorce decree from 20 years ago states that my ex-wife and I are to each pay 50% of my child's college tuition.

She claims that shortly after we divorced we signed an amendment to the divorce judgment changing the payment percentages to me having to pay 75%, which I do not remember. I obtained a copy of the decree from the courthouse and there was no amendment attached stating this change.

Would this document, if it exists, supersede the court-ordered amount from our decree?