Hi, I am Concerned Father of an 18 year old daughter. She has been living with her mother since she was 7. Although we had JOINT Custody, the mother would not agree to let my daughter live with me at anytime after the divorce in fear of being alone. After 11 years of faithfully paying child support and other necessities and non during her adolescents, I have been asked to continue Child Support in addition Pay for College after she turns 18 while being full or part time student. I am of minimal income, yet steady employ and was looking forward to helping my daughter with her financial needs while attending school, but want to know if it is mandatory or is it a GOOD FATHERLY thing to do?

1. Sorry don't blame your wife, she did it because you did not take her back to court to force her, you could have done that anytime if you had a joint custody. So basically you did not want her bad enough to take your ex back to court to have her found in contempt.

2. 11 years of paying child support, yes that was ordered and only right to pay for your child.

3. what does your child custody agreement says, many say you keep paying as long as the child is in college. So you get out your copy of the latest chid custody order ( assumign someone went back to court in 11 years) and see what it says you have to do.

Many people are back into court every year to three years fighting over some issue.

Thanks for the quick answer.

1) I felt my daughter would be better to live with her mother, since I am still single and was living 1500 miles away. So, yes it was not to my daughters best interest to live with me.

2) I never complained about paying child support, mostly proud to be a part of it.

3) We Never have went back to court, I just doubled Child Support a few years ago on my own.

I just figure I need to ask if I continue to be a good father and continue with this support, is it possible (can I, or is it in my rights) to claim dependency for her now that she is over 18 years? Even if she lives with her mother still? Since I am paying for it?

I do not have great communication with my X, and if I suggested that I want to claim the education expenses on my taxes - well, it won't be pretty.

What are my rights now if there was nothing mentioned in the original divorce documents about further education after my daughter reaches 18 years. Is that just an unwritten law?

Thanks again - and thanks for removing the other post.
I was trying to do that myself.

CF

My ? Is this, I pay child support for two of my children, one is 23 and the other is 30. This is not back pay as I been paying for 18 years for my daughter and about 25 years for my son. My daughter was 5 yrs.old when I moved away,her mother remarried about 10 yrs ago. Why are they still seeking money from me?

They're seeking it because they want money from you.

A better question is why you're paying it.