If you are in the middle of a divorce with your spouse, you may be contemplating different things such as alimony, child support, and child custody. When such matters are being evaluated and discussed with a divorce lawyer Waldorf MD has to offer, you need to keep in mind one other important thing: college tuition. This is critical, and while your children may be younger, it will be something that needs to be addressed in the future. There are some facts to keep in mind when evaluating college tuition and how the divorce lawyers Waldorf MD has to offer can assist you with resolving this question now.

Who is Responsible For College Tuition?

The basic answer of college tuition for a child and the responsibility lies with the parents, especially as long as the child is considered a dependent. If at any time your child decides to become emancipated from one or both parents, then there is no longer a legal obligation. If there was a divorce among the parents, then it should have been determined during the divorce decree which parent would be responsible for the tuition if one has sole responsibility.

It could also be written that both parents are responsible, but depending on income, they could pay different amounts. With the help of a divorce lawyer in Waldorf MD, your case can be properly evaluated.

Evaluating Salaries For Parents

When college tuition is calculated into the mix of financial obligations, it is considered with any alimony and child support payments that are required by the noncustodial parent. Also, your financial status at the time of the divorce could change significantly if your children are not entering or currently in college for several years. However, if college tuition is something that is coming in the next year or two, both salaries of the parents will be evaluated at that time.

If you did have it listed in a past divorce that you would revisit your financial status and that time has come, then expect to show all income documentation at the time of evaluation. This will also be factored in with any child support payments, alimony costs, and the current tuition of the selected school. If the student is receiving scholarships or other types of payment for their tuition from third parties, the amount that will be evaluated in tuition will be the remaining costs.

How Should It Be Written During the Divorce?

At the time of the divorce, keep in mind when exactly college tuition will be a factor. If it is in the near future, then you may not expect many changes to your financial situation and be willing to have it determined on who is paying the tuition. If a 50/50 split is something that you and the other party can agree on, then consider that during divorce mediation Waldorf MD with your lawyer present. Parents who have a salary that is significantly larger than the others may be responsible for more of the tuition amount. Any scholarships, grants, or aid that the student may receive can also be considered.

However, if your children are young, it is not a good idea to settle on how college tuition will be covered. Not only could your financial situation change, where your child plans to attend school plays a role, as well as rising tuition costs that can manifest in that time. After speaking with your divorce lawyer in Waldorf MD, you may want to discuss leaving that to be revisited at a later time when college tuition becomes a factor.

How Can Your Divorce Attorney Waldorf MD Assist?

If you are currently going through a divorce and want to make sure that your children get all of the appropriate assistance when the time comes for college, it is essential that you seek out experienced divorce attorneys that understand the process and can assist you with getting what is fair. At the Law Office of Robert Castro, our team can assist with cases that are reopened for children who are now planning to attend college or parents who are divorcing before college tuition becomes an immediate financial obligation.

Feel free to reach out to our team today for a consultation regarding our services or for more information on how we can help. We look forward to hearing from you soon.