Can the Other Parent Be Forced to Pay College Expenses in PA?

Currently, in Pennsylvania, there is no obligation for a parent to contribute to the post-secondary or college education of their child over the age of 18. Child support as a rule generally terminates upon turning 18 or graduating from high school. This is because the resources of the parent are supposed to be dedicated to providing for the care and support of minor children.

The standard for this was set out in the case of Blue v. Blue, which held that a parent is required to sacrifice for the support of their minor children. Once a child reaches the age of 18 and majority, then there is no longer an obligation on a parent to pay money towards their college education because they are adults under state law.

The court will not obligate a parent to pay for the education of their adult children, however if a parent commits within a marriage settlement agreement to paying for their child’s college education, then they will be required to pay for it. This is not because of any statutory or judicial requirement, but because of obligation by the contract.

Contact our PA child support lawyers today to discuss your child support case, and whether or not you could be obligated to pay.

Our office accepts Pennsylvania family law cases including divorce, equitable distribution, spousal support, alimony pendente lite, alimony, paternity and child support matters, child custody cases, juvenile law cases, and related matters in Allegheny County (Pittsburgh), Beaver County, Berks County, Butler County, Clearfield County, Washington County, Westmoreland County (Greensburg), Lawrence County, and Mercer County. Our law firm accepts Pennsylvania family law cases from other Pennsylvania counties including Armstrong County (Kittanning) Clarion County, Fayette County, Greene County, Indiana County,Somerset County, and Venango County on a case-by-case basis.

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Disclaimer

The statements in this section are based on Pennsylvania law and have been issued to inform and not advise. The statements are general in nature and individual facts in a given case may alter their application or involve other laws not referred to here.

Our law firm accepts Pennsylvania family law cases from other Western Pennsylvania counties including Armstrong County (Kittanning) Clarion County, Fayette County, Greene County, Indiana County, Somerset County, and Venango County on a case-by-case basis.

Disclaimer

The statements in this section are based on Pennsylvania law and have been issued to inform and not advise. The statements are general in nature and individual facts in a given case may alter their application or involve other laws not referred to here.

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