St. Louis Child Support Lawyer

Does Child Support Extend Through College?

In Missouri, child support is expected to cover financially and expenses. Child support is calculated by taking into account the children's learning needs as well as the quality of life the child would have if the marriage had not been broken. Parents are typically obligated to support their children before they turn 18. Additionally, child support may be applied past the age of 18 for academic purposes.

Child Support Through College Education

When your children are involved, parents are mostly concerned with visitation, child custody arrangements, and the child's developmental needs. Parents should, nevertheless, consider their child's long-term and expected needs, as well as the expensive cost of a university degree. It can be daunting to decide how much to put aside for the future when education expenses are too dependent on:

• Private vs. public education
• In-state vs. out-of-state enrollment
• Financial aid opportunities

Whether parents don't prepare for education funding, if their child is attending higher education, their child support commitments will remain until the child turns 18. According to Missouri Revised Law 452.340, a parent's responsibility to provide child support expires when the child turns the age of eighteen.

Does the Other Parent Get Child Support for the College Student?

The noncustodial parent of an university student may object to child support payments continuing to be paid to the primary caregiver. If the child is enrolled in a postsecondary or higher academic institution, “the paying parent responsible may file a petition to modify the agreement to direct the mandated parent to make payments to the child,” according to Missouri child support legislation.

Presumed Missouri Child Support Calculation Worksheet

In Missouri, the Presumed Child Support Calculation Worksheet is commonly called “Form 14.” The costs of health, dental and vision insurances, work-related child care, ongoing medical and other special needs expenses, and other factors are also considered. The guidelines for determining child support are comprehensive and some of the rules can be complicated and confusing. This makes it all the more important to involve a skilled St. Louis child support attorney.

Contrary to instinct or common belief, the paying parent’s ability to pay is rarely directly considered when determining child support:

• In cases of 50/50 physical custody, if one parent earns substantially more than the other, there will likely still be a child support order.
• In cases of 50/50 physical custody in which the income of the parents are nearly equal, there may not be any child support ordered.

To have your questions answered regarding child support, contact the St. Louis family law attorneys at Cavanagh & Associates to schedule a consultation. We help parents in and around St. Charles, St. Louis, and Chesterfield. We can talk to you about your concerns and provide frank answers to your questions, helping you understand your rights, responsibilities, and legal options regarding child support and other areas of your divorce or paternity matter.

How is Child Support Collected in Missouri?

If there is a child support order in place, it is mandatory for the parent ordered to pay the child support to pay as designated. If there is no payment received or if it is not received in a timely manner, you are able to request that that the support is deducted directly from their paycheck. To take it a step further, a Federal Income Withholding Order can be filed if needed to terminate an existing support order and start new wage withholding.

How Do I Modify My Child Support in Missouri?

After a child support order is finalized, it can still be modified by the court if there is a change in circumstances that makes the support payments unreasonable.

Some examples of life changes that could warrant a child support modification are:

• Change in job
• Remarriage of former spouse
• Custody changes
• Financial needs of children or parents
• Relocation

Circumstances such as unemployment may not result in a modification if the unemployed parent has the capacity to earn sufficient money based on factors including their skill level, education, and job opportunity. Ultimately it is up to the court to decide if a modification is warranted considering the circumstances of both parties.

Related Page:

• Missouri Child Support Enforcement

Looking to modify an existing support order or need representation to set one up? Our St. Louis child support lawyer is ready to hear from you. Give us a call at (314) 309-2799 to get started.