Legal Question in Family Law in Indiana

Re: College Financial Responsibility

If the decree did not address college costs, you need to petition to modify the decree prior to the day she enters college in order for the court to proportion the expense between the parents. The guidelines are evolving in this area, so from time to time the courts order that a child be responsible for 1/3 of the cost and the parents split the other 2/3. Most recently, the courts have said that a child's scholarships and grants go toward satisfying the child's 1/3. Most parents want to split the cost left after all financial aids. Sometimes there is a dispute as to what expenses to include in the costs (books, tuition and housing and other charges by the college are a given) such as clothing, sports tickets, travel to and from school, bus passes, and a weekly allowance for food (not provided in the housing agreement) laundry and whatever else one can think of. It is not impossible for the parents to reach an agreement without petitioning the court; however, if the agreement is not filed with the court, and one of you backs out, it is not enforceable.