Most of the time, college enrollment occurs after a young adult becomes a legal adult. Some teenagers, including gifted students and homeschooled children, may be able to start a college degree while they are still minors. They may have dual enrollment at the local high school and a community college, for example.
In such cases, parents may need to provide financial support to help assist with those costs. Financial responsibility can be a little less clear in scenarios where the student has already turned 18 and officially graduated from high school.
A parent who has previously received child support may hope to extend it through the college years to help cover academic expenses. A parent paying child support in Illinois may want to end that parental responsibility as early as possible.
Can child support help with college costs after a child turns 18?
Illinois can order support during college
In some states, the law very clearly prohibits judges from continuing child support into the college years. Thankfully, that is not the case in Illinois. Judges actually have the authority to order child support until a young adult turns 23 or their grades reach an untenable low point. In fact, the courts can order the parent paying support to cover the costs of up to five college applications, two standardized college entrance exams and a course to help them prepare for the tests.
That being said, child support payments are often far lower than the cost of tuition, housing and books. In fact, child support may only be a fraction of half of those costs. Sometimes, parents may need to negotiate their own arrangements and establish a written agreement about paying for college as part of a divorce. Instead of relitigating support matters once children turn 18, parents can have a plan in place if they separate or divorce while the children are still young.
Parents who understand what Illinois family law judges can order may feel more comfortable requesting child support that lasts through college. They may also see the value in negotiating a specific plan with their co-parent when they initially divorce or separate. The support of both parents can be necessary to help a young adult pursue their educational ambitions.