I see all these posts all the time about paying for schooling and disputes about how long and under what circumstance. Is there a standard expectation, or is it quite variable? What should go into an agreement in the first place to avoid disputes on this topic later? It is some years away, but I see my neice making poor decisions and it worries me, and since currently trying to get an order in place I want to be proactive on this topic now.
I was considering suggesting the agreement say we would each pay our share of section 7 expenses relating to school for 5 years of school or finish a first degree, which ever comes first, and limiting child support to that time frame. Is that resonable or if a dispute would a judge find fault with that? Is there an expectation that parents would have to pay for more than one degree, or advanced degrees, or be on the hook for some extremely expensive programs? It is one thing if there are extraordinary reasons a child couldnt attend, maybe a serious illness, etc, and that I would agree to change and feel is reasonable. However, I want to avoid a situation where the adult child can go to school part time, or fail classes and take forever to finish one undergrad degree. I see my neice currently in second year who last year did not take a full course load (4 classes instead of 5), failed one, this year also not taking a full course load, and she is not working, so that is not the reason she isnt taking a normal load. There is no way she can finish a degree in 4 years at this speed. If my child decided to fritter away their time, then I would prefer to have a 5 year max on it to encourage them to go to school in a timely manner. It is one thing to fritter away your time on your own dime (as my neice is doing via loans and will be in for a shock when she has to pay it all back), it is quite another to expect a parent to pay your way through time wasting adulthood.
what is a typical expectation for postsecondary support?
I was considering suggesting the agreement say we would each pay our share of section 7 expenses relating to school for 5 years of school or finish a first degree, which ever comes first, and limiting child support to that time frame. Is that resonable or if a dispute would a judge find fault with that? Is there an expectation that parents would have to pay for more than one degree, or advanced degrees, or be on the hook for some extremely expensive programs? It is one thing if there are extraordinary reasons a child couldnt attend, maybe a serious illness, etc, and that I would agree to change and feel is reasonable. However, I want to avoid a situation where the adult child can go to school part time, or fail classes and take forever to finish one undergrad degree. I see my neice currently in second year who last year did not take a full course load (4 classes instead of 5), failed one, this year also not taking a full course load, and she is not working, so that is not the reason she isnt taking a normal load. There is no way she can finish a degree in 4 years at this speed. If my child decided to fritter away their time, then I would prefer to have a 5 year max on it to encourage them to go to school in a timely manner. It is one thing to fritter away your time on your own dime (as my neice is doing via loans and will be in for a shock when she has to pay it all back), it is quite another to expect a parent to pay your way through time wasting adulthood.
what is a typical expectation for postsecondary support?
Comment