Child support car for college commute? (custody, legally, divorce, parents)

[jackbgk]

My daughter is in college, living at home with me. She commutes to a college 30 minutes away. No public transportation available. My husband refuses to help pay for her car expenses. He says this is included in child support. Our divorce agreement only addresses the issue of splitting the cost of college 50/50. Should he pay for her car costs as well? I am struggling to make ends meet. thanks for your help.

[BobKovacs]

Sounds like a question for your lawyer or the judge.....

[nemmert]

Not to get totally off topic, but it sounds like your daughter needs to either (or both) a) start taking out a FAFSA loan to start paying for part of her own schools and/or b) get a part time job to at the minimum pay for her own gas.

You didn't give many specifics of the situation but it sounds like it's not the best relationship. I'm guessing he didn't get a whole lot of say in which college she was going to go to, whether she'd live on campus or commute, which car she'd be taking to and from school, etc? If so, I can understand him not wanting to pay more, especially if what he's already paying is more than he expected.

Times are tough, she should chip in... you can't take out a loan for retirement but you can take out a LOT of loans for college... and hey, most of them have tax deductible interest!

[RobRiguez]

I am truely baffelled by what is required or not. Ive had a friend taken to court because he couldnt/wouldnt cough up $2k for his 16yr old daughter to go to France for the summer. Wife paid for it and sued him for half. Judge ruled in her favor.

A woman I work with paid Sylvan Learning for her 12yr old son to get some extra help (He was failing and in danger of being held back). She wanted her ex to help pay. Judge ruled in HIS favor, he didnt have to pay a dime.

A guy I know is a Limo driver. He makes maybe 1k/week with tips and alot of extra hours. His ex wife who cheated on him, left him, got the house and won custody of both kids, also makes over 100k/year, gets more than half his pay in the form of child support.

Makes NO sense!!!

[Kibbiekat]

I guess it all depends on what was in the original settlement. I guess the same question could be asked about braces, extracurricular activities, all kinds of "extras" that come up. Personally, I think dad should help pay for a car. Otherwise, he should make his available for her to borrow half the time.

ETA if daughter is over 18, can you still even get child support? Does it go until she's out of college?

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by jackbgk

My daughter is in college, living at home with me. She commutes to a college 30 minutes away. No public transportation available. My husband refuses to help pay for her car expenses. He says this is included in child support. Our divorce agreement only addresses the issue of splitting the cost of college 50/50. Should he pay for her car costs as well? I am struggling to make ends meet. thanks for your help.

What he SHOULD do and what he is LEGALLY OBLIGATED to do are two different things unfortunately. If you didn't get this spelled out specifically in court documents there is no way you can require him to help. Sorry

[uptown_urbanist]

I agree that what he should do and what he's obligated to do are two separate things, but honestly, I don't think either parent should be paying for a car. If she's old enough to be in college and to drive then she's old enough to get a job and/or get a loan to cover the costs.

[beachmel]

Originally Posted by uptown_urbanist

I agree that what he should do and what he's obligated to do are two separate things, but honestly, I don't think either parent should be paying for a car. If she's old enough to be in college and to drive then she's old enough to get a job and/or get a loan to cover the costs.

I agree with this poster. There has to be a line drawn somewhere here. She should have BEEN working part time in order get get herself a car. If her parents chip in and buy her a car (with a cap on the price), she should be required to pay her parents back. I don't think her father should be required to buy her a car.

[steelstress]

No, he shouldn't be forced to pay. Daughter needs to get a job to meet that expense.

[NoExcuses]

Since money is an issue at home, the daughter should have had a job in high school to save for a car, or go to college where she doesn't need a car.