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ibredhead · Jan 1, 2007, 09:44 PM

Hello~ My child will be turning 18 and graduating during the same month. My child plans on going to college right after graduation. Would I be entitled to receive support during her college years? I am a single mother of two and I've only been working for the last seven years. I do not make much money and need the support to continue with the living expenses. I live in the state of California. If I am entitled, what all is envolved with getting this started? Is it something I can do without representation?

Thanks for your input!

Ibredhead

SINGLE4 · Jan 3, 2007, 01:25 PM

No... I don't think so. (Just to be certain, I would call an attorney an ask).

You have several other options...

1) Your daughter could apply for scholarships
2) Apply for financial aid with the college (*My parents did this for me)
3) Apply for grants (*My parents did and it was enough to pay for my
Books)

I received financial aid and grant money which paid for the majority of my schooling and my books. Also, I did work study at the college.

I don't know how her father feels about paying any college but maybe see if he can help!

Hope this helps a little! Good Luck!

ScottGem · Jan 3, 2007, 01:44 PM

Originally Posted by ibredhead

Hello~ My child will be turning 18 and graduating during the same month. My child plans on going to college right after graduation. Would I be entitled to receive support during her college years? I am a single mother of two and I've only been working for the last seven years. I do not make much money and need the support to continue with the living expenses. I live in the state of California. If I am entitled, what all is envolved with getting this started? Is it something I can do without representation?

Thanks for your input!

Ibredhead

First, YOU are not entitled to ANY support for her. The purpose of child support is to pay expenses incurred for the support of the child. Second, it depends on what the divorce agreement stated. Generally, support ends at 18, or when the child finishes school. However, the father can petition the court to reduce his payments if she is going away to school, thereby needed less support.

Gotwheels · Jan 3, 2007, 02:16 PM

Hi Ibredhead
In most cases when a child reaches 18 either they or a parent usually declares them emancipated (meaning the paying spouse or parents wants not to pay any more) Usually for obvious reasons. The normal exception is when a child is either mentally disabled or going to some type of school, whether trade or college. Then the parent can ask the court for a cintunance of support payments till the child is out of school. Usually the paying spouse will ask for the court to monitor that the child isn't using school as a reason for not becoming emancipated. The courts will usually go for an extension of 4 years. The support payments for a child are not meant for you to keep getting money unless you are actually going to pay for schooling. The legal aid or you case worker for social services if you have one is where you start.

s_cianci · Jan 3, 2007, 08:48 PM

Some states require parents to continue paying support for adult children as long as they are full-time students enrolled in institutions of higher learning, usually up to age 23 or until they cease to be enrolled, whichever comes first. I don't know about California specifically. You may want to talk with an attorney about that.

superduper · Jul 16, 2007, 04:10 AM

Ibredhead,

Are those other two children from the same father? If not, are you receiving support for them? Also, the support is for your child, not you. If your child wants to go to college, that is a choice and does not have to cost either of you money. I paid for my way through school and worked full time, so it's not impossible to do. Your child should be eligible for financial aid and grants that would be more than enough to pay tuition and fees. Unless of course, you decided to claim them on your taxes when you should have let them claim themselves. Although, even if you did claim them on your taxes, it sounds to me that you are not making a lot of money and therefore, you should more than fall into the income category for your child to receive federal aid. You have to face the facts that they are now an adult and you cannot continue to receive money for them.