Can Only Divorced Parents Be Ordered to Pay College Expenses?
Posted on December 31, 2024 in Child Support
Parents in Illinois often wonder about the state’s requirement to support their children after they turn 18. While child support typically ends when a child reaches adulthood or graduates from high school, Illinois law allows courts to order non-minor support in certain situations, including college expenses.
Understanding these requirements and how courts decide whether and how much parents have to pay for a child’s education is an important part of setting expectations for the overall divorce process. An experienced Wheaton, IL child support attorney can provide guidance tailored to your situation.
When Does Child Support End in Illinois?
Under Illinois law, child support payments usually end when a child turns 18 or graduates from high school, whichever occurs later. If the child is still in high school when she turns 18, support continues until she graduates or turns 19. Beyond this, parents may still be required to contribute to their child’s education and living expenses under specific circumstances.
Non-minor support is not automatic but can be ordered by the court when a child is attending college or another form of higher education, or if the child has a disability that requires ongoing financial support.
Are Court-Ordered College Expenses Just for Divorced Parents?
Illinois courts have the authority to order parents to help a child pay for college expenses, but only if the parents are divorced. The idea is that children who would otherwise have gotten financial help from their parents to pay for college should not suffer as a result of their parents’ decision to get divorced.
Parents are not necessarily required to pay for a child’s full education. Courts consider several factors when determining whether and how much parents should contribute, including each parent’s income, assets, and other financial responsibilities.
Courts also consider the child’s personal finances. Scholarships, grants, loans, or money from a part-time job can be factored into the decision. The child’s success in school matters as well. Parents are generally required to support only those children who maintain reasonable academic progress; a child who flunks classes may not be entitled to ongoing support.
The court can order payments for tuition, room and board, books, fees, and even medical or dental expenses. The maximum amount parents can pay is based on the cost of in-state tuition at the University of Illinois’ Urbana-Champaign campus, even if the child chooses a more expensive private or out-of-state institution.
When Can Non-Minor Support End?
Non-minor support does not continue forever. For college expenses, support typically ends when the child turns 23 unless there is a good reason to extend it to age 25. Support may also end if the child’s grades drop or the child becomes totally self-supporting, graduates or drops out, or gets married.
Parents can seek modification or termination of non-minor support if their financial circumstances change significantly or if the child no longer qualifies under the court’s conditions, but should not stop making payments until the court gives them permission.
Contact a DuPage County, IL Child Support Lawyer Today
If you have questions about non-minor support or college expenses for your child, contact a Wheaton, IL non-minor support attorney at Andrew Cores Family Law Group. Call 630-871-1002 to schedule a free consultation and learn how we can assist you.
