In Illinois, the court may order one or both parents to contribute to the post-high school educational and maintenance expenses (i.e., college expenses) of the child(ren) of divorced parents. The educational and maintenance expenses may include, but are not necessarily limited to:
• Tuition and all educational fees and registration expenses
• Room and board
• Books and educational supplies
• Medical expenses including medical insurance
• Dental expenses
• Living expenses during the school year and periods of recess
• Transportation expenses
The above sums may be ordered payable to the child, to either parent or to the educational institution. They will be given directly, or through a special account or trust created for that purpose, as the court sees fit. It does get complicated, and an experienced divorce attorney can help.
What Do the Courts Consider?
In making those educational and maintenance expense awards for college expenses, the court may consider all relevant factors, including but not necessarily limited to:
- The financial resources of both parents
- The standard of living the child would have enjoyed had the marriage not been dissolved
- The financial resources of the child including all grants, scholarships and loans
With money on the line, consulting with an experienced divorce lawyer at the law firm of Michael T. Mahoney, Ltd., can make a big difference in your financial future.
To find out more about how we may able to help you or to schedule an initial consultation to discuss your case, please call 866-677-8081 or contact us online. We have offices in Chillicothe and Peoria.
