There is so much information on the news regarding the College Admission Cheating scandal involving many “elite” colleges and universities. Of interest is the fact that as of March 13, while Felicity Huffman was charged and arrested, her husband William H. Macy was not. The world will now wait and see what happens to this couple… both legally, and in their marriage.
But this brings to light the other question regarding College and the costs of the same. Not everyone is as fortunate financially to absorb 100% of the cost of their childrens’ college education. During a divorce, this becomes a question for the parents.
Sally and Jim are getting a divorce. Judy, their 17 ½ year old daughter has been accepted to Stanford (legitimately…without the assistance of the nefarious Rick Singer, the CEO behind the college cheating scandal), and tuition for Stanford is beyond anything that Sally could pay on her own. When Judy was making applications for college, Sally and Jim thought that they would remain together. But months went by, Jim cheated…Sally got angry…and the divorce got filed.
Sally went to her attorney and gave the lawyer the parameters of what she wanted the divorce papers to say. Spousal support, debt allocation, child support (for the 13 year old son), payment of extracurricular activities for the son, child support for the son, division of financial accounts, and division of the household goods and furnishings. But, Sally also told her attorney that she wanted her husband to pay for Judy’s college education. This had been planned. Sally didn’t work, and Jim earned a substantial amount of money. Sally and Jim had always planned on paying for Judy’s college education using the paycheck that Jim got every two weeks.
Unfortunately, Sally’s attorney explained to her that in the State of Ohio, once a child is emancipated (graduated from high school, and over 18), that the court has no jurisdiction to order Jim to pay for college! What???!!!, Sally says. It’s not fair!!! He said he would.
So, the lawyer explains that if Jim will sign the divorce papers agreeing to pay for Judy’s college education, then he WILL BE COURT ORDERED to do this, and the court THEN will have jurisdiction over this issue to compel Jim to do this if, in the future, he stops paying for the college expenses.
The lawyer then reaches out to Jim’s lawyer, and the conversations and the negotiation begins.
The attorneys at Joseph & Joseph & Hanna, Co. LPA have the experience to get you through this extremely difficult and heart-wrenching time of the divorce, and look forward to working with you.
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