Missouri Child Support Question
Ok... so DH pays child support for his 2 kids 11 & 12. The divorce decree says that he is responsible for paying for half of college costs. Does this mean he will have to pay child support AND college costs at the same time?
I see that it says "When a child reaches age eighteen, if the child is enrolled in and attending a secondary school program of instruction, the parental support obligation shall continue, if the child continues to attend and progresses toward completion of said program, until the child completes such program or reaches age 21, whichever first occurs."
But why should he pay CS to her if he is covering half of the costs for them being away at college?
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Half of college for 2 kids
Half of college for 2 kids plus child support will be like 75% of his take home pay.... that's insane. I'm not paying for that crap!
Secondary school is high
Secondary school is high school (here in the states). So, I may be wrong, but I think once the kid finishes high school, CS stops, but can then start college. That's my interpretation anyway.
But there is more: 'If the
But there is more:
'If the child is enrolled in an institution of vocational or higher education not later than October first following graduation from a secondary school or completion of a graduation equivalence degree program and so long as the child enrolls for and completes at least twelve hours of credit each semester, not including the summer semester, at an institution of vocational or higher education and achieves grades sufficient to reenroll at such institution, the parental support obligation shall continue until the child completes his or her education, or until the child reaches the age of twenty-one, whichever first occurs.'
Ok, well that's just batshit
Ok, well that's just batshit then. :jawdrop:
It is crazy. Not only are
It is crazy. Not only are intact families not forced to pay for college, but when kid turns 18, they do not have to support them at all if they don't desire.
Luckily, nothing about paying for college was in my DH's decree, not that SD would've gone to college, even if she hadn't been 2 years behind in high school.
The age used to be 22 in MO if they were in college but they changed it some years back.
Yep, CS will still be in
Yep, CS will still be in play.
My SD was 2 years behind, so
My SD was 2 years behind, so had she not gotten married at 18 and not dropped out of HS, we would have been paying CS until she finally graduated HS or turned 21.
In MO, you can go to high school until 21 if needed, that's why that is in there.
Get that girl married!!! Just
Get that girl married!!! Just kidding.
The 21 yrs of age with
The 21 yrs of age with program/schooling , is a Missouri CS guideline/law. The paying 1/2 of college was additional and entered in the divorce degree.
So yes, the guy signed himself up for CS AND 1/2 of college cost. CS part will cease though at 21 whether kid in college still or not. However, you might ask your lawyer to review the wording in the divorce degree to understand whether your DH signed himself up for university and a full higher education ability or if he simply has to say, pay for 1/2 of a 2yr community college which child would surely reach by age 20/21.
See a lawyer - would be worth
See a lawyer - would be worth the 200 consultation fee to get that clarified. It is crazy that divorced families can be forced to pay for college. In tact families are not...This could cost you tons. A state school in GA is 12K a semester here. Trust me, I am about to pay the half that his scholarship doesn't cover. BS19 is my responsibility, but I only do what I want until I can't. Up to me, not a CO.
You need to get this clarified so you can start preparing.
In the divorce decree it says
In the divorce decree it says something along the lines of 'half of what it would cost to attend a state school'.
I wonder too if that can be
I wonder too if that can be read as half of tuition, but not room and board? So if skid is still living with BM during college, then BM gets CS. (Somehow I can't see BM paying ALL of room and board!)
And he says that his attorney
And he says that his attorney put that line in to stop his ex from sending the kids to expensive colleges and having him pay for it.. my point is.. My parents paid for NONE of my college. Why should any kid expect their parents to pay for their college. If the parents can then that's great.. but most parents can't pay for it all.
well it's in the divorce
well it's in the divorce decree so that's more of a civil matter I guess.
There are still some
There are still some stipulations the kid has to follow and meet to keep the cs coming after high school graduation. Requirements such as deadline when the kid must be enrolled, number of credit hours, decent grades ect.
a link to the Missouri Statutes on this:
http://www.moga.mo.gov/statutes/C400-499/4520000340.htm