Legal Question in Family Law in New Hampshire

Financial Indepndence/Dependence: College Tuition

My parents divorced in New Hampshire in 1998, custody was determined joint and it was determined with the law that College finances would be taken care of by our parents. In 2001-2002 my parents legally affirmed who would pay for whom's college tuition payments through the court.The order said my mom shall pay the cost my college tuition for four years based on UNH's tuition, but I did not have to attend there. She continues to threaten to relinquish my tuition payments if I do not do small things for her like vacation with the family instead of stay home and work over the summer. Being 19 now is there any legal action I can take to gain control of the ''my'' college payments so she cannot use them to threaten me There is a great amount of stress thinking at anytime I may not be able to attend college or must oblige to her terms when it is stressful Can I declare myself independent of her so that I can receive more benefits for Financial Assistance? In sum, I am only looking for a way to remove myself from the stress she imposes upon me due to the financial dependence of a college education.


Asked on 4/18/03, 9:04 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Michael Cornelio Atty. Michael J. Cornelio

Re: Financial Indepndence/Dependence: College Tuition

If you don't have a copy of the final orders in regard to your parents' divorce and the orders in regard to whom is supposed to be paying your support, go to the court where the divorce occurred and get copies. If your Mother is legally obligated to pay your support and refuses to do so, she is in contempt of court and the court will enforce the order in some way, it may also require her to pay attorney's fees to the person who had to bring her back into court. Don't let her use the tuition to manipulate you. Make your own decisions and if she witholds the tuition you have a couple of options, the easiest thing to do may be to talk to your father and ask him to file a motion for contempt to force her to make the payments. If he is not willling or you would rather not ask him, you may be able to intervene in the divorce and file your own motion for contempt. If you have further questions, email me directly at [email protected]

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Answered on 4/19/03, 8:13 am


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