Looking for someone w/experience in Illinois college support laws

[SoSickofit]

<<We are offering 1/3 of tuition, fees and books>>

<<We're quite sure that CP will reject this offer>>


You are right. My apologies. After 15 years of marriage, it's hard not to think in terms of "we".

 

[SoSickofit]

We'll have to just wait and see what happens. I already knew that, I just thought someone here might have some recent experience that I could learn from. That's all I was looking for. Thanks anyway.

 

[stealth2]

Well, if you think about it, what Dad is proposing is a three way split of tuition, books, fees. Mom, on the other hand, will ALSO be covering housing and food. So she'll be paying more than her "share" if both parents are equally able to pay college costs. She'd be smart to tell the kid to move out into his/her own place. And pay a third of that (plus tuition, etc) instead.

 

[nextwife]

Well, if you think about it, what Dad is proposing is a three way split of tuition, books, fees. Mom, on the other hand, will ALSO be covering housing and food. So she'll be paying more than her "share"

Why would Mom necessarily pay more? I went to a commuter campus, rather than away for a chunk of my college education, and I paid parents a room and board expense AND paid my own tuition, fees and books. 100% of it.

 

[SoSickofit]

We have no problem covering our share of reasonable living expenses. My original question was whether or not anybody here knows how the court generally determines what is reasonable as far as living expenses go.

 

[keyzblewz]

Since he is going to a community college I am going to assume that there are no on campus living alternatives...no dorms and such. If there were you could check with the school regarding their estimated living expenses.

My son's school does an estimate which takes into account dorm fees, food, gas and such. You might call the school he is going to attend and see if they have any info on living expenses for kids who live off campus in an apartment and, if they do offer dorms they will be able to tell you what to expect as far as expenses.

You won't find exact figures but it will give your husband an idea where to start as far as negotiating with his ex wife.

I will tell you this. My son lived at home last year but is back on campus this year. It has cost me much less to have him on campus than it has to have him home. I save on my electric bill, water bill, I spend less money on food. Even though he was giving me $200 a month toward expenses I've been surprised at how moving him on campus has saved me money.

 

[BelizeBreeze]

It also helps with the 'after' life....

 

[stealth2]

Why would Mom necessarily pay more? I went to a commuter campus, rather than away for a chunk of my college education, and I paid parents a room and board expense AND paid my own tuition, fees and books. 100% of it.

Sure - and a lot of kids DO do that. But the question was regarding a "fair" split with each parent and the kid covering a third of the tuition, etc. Nothing about the kid paying for his/her living expenses at Mom's, etc. Basically, I was just tossing out that as something they should take into consideration.

 

[sbeeman]

Original Order

What if the original order made no mention of college at all? That child support terminates upon graduation. My husband is coming up on the same problem but his papers do not make mention of college. Just that child support terminates upon age 18 or graduation, whichever is later. Just for the record, my stepson makes c's and d's in school, so obviously his education has not been a priority up to this point.

 

[stealth2]

Since this is essentially a dead thread, you'd be better off starting your own, new thread.