Child Support and Educational Expenses

Parents have an obligation to provide financial support for their children, whether they are married, unmarried, or divorced. In most cases, a noncustodial parent will be obligated to pay child support to provide for children’s basic living expenses, such as food, clothing, and shelter. One additional expense that can become a factor in determining child support is the cost of a child’s education, and understanding how educational expenses in child support are handled is crucial for both parents. If you need help understanding your situation or options, contact our Ohio child support lawyers today.

Meeting Children’s Educational Needs

One of the aims of child support is to provide a similar financial situation to that of a child with married parents. In addition to a parent’s child support obligations, they may also be required to contribute to children’s educational expenses, which can include the following:

• Daycare – Preschool, early childhood education, and other types of daycare can help to provide a child with an early education and care for a child while parents are working. A parent may be required to cover part of their child’s work-related child care expenses.
• Grade School and High School – While school costs are typically factored into child support, parents may be required to contribute to additional costs, such as tutoring, private school tuition, or any other extraordinary educational needs. The total cost of education will be reviewed by the court to determine the appropriate amount of child support obligations.
• College – In Ohio, parents are not required to contribute toward their children’s college expenses. However, parents may agree to assist with these expenses as part of their divorce agreement.

Child support typically continues until a child becomes a legal adult at age 18, or upon graduation from high school. Exceptions to this age limit may be made if the child has not finished high school by the age of 18, or if the child is disabled and will not be able to fully support themselves after reaching adulthood.

Consequences for Failure to Pay Child Support in OH

There can be serious consequences for a parent who fails to pay child support. These include seizure of the parent’s assets, suspension of the parent’s driver’s license, delinquency notifications to credit companies, and passport denial. If the parent repeatedly fails to pay child support, eventually the case may be raised to the federal level. The parent may face large fines, a misdemeanor or felony charge, and jail time for the offense.

Unpaid child support can be collected indefinitely in the state of Ohio, even after a child has passed the age of 18.

Contact our Medina Child Support Lawyers

Children deserve to have the financial support that will not only meet their basic needs, but will ensure that they receive a good education. If you need help determining child support in your divorce or paternity case, the experienced attorneys of Erb Legal LLC, a trusted Ohio family law firm, are here to help. Contact a Northeast Ohio child support attorney today at 330-446-3606.

Sources:
http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/3119
https://www.justice.gov/criminal-ceos/citizens-guide-us-federal-law-child-support-enforcement
https://www.ohiobar.org/ForPublic/Resources/LawFactsPamphlets/Pages/lawfactspamphlet-33.aspx

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