Save Now For College – Or Pay A Lot In Child Support Later!

A: Many parents who pay child support for a minor child (or children) don’t realize that they generally must ALSO save towards college.

1. Start saving now

I had a potential client walk into my office & say the Support Magistrate was about to assess him with a share of his son’s college tuition – in addition to paying basic support. He said the tuition was $20,000 per year, and thus his share was $10,000. He said he didn’t have $10,000 to give, in addition to paying the basic support. Having fully reviewed the facts with him, my basic conclusion was: he’s screwed! He didn’t save all along & could have reasonably anticipated his son would go to college. He otherwise had the financial means all along to put aside a small amount of money – which over the years would have built up enough to pay. He didn’t do so, and thus is now being hit with the large bill.

2. Lesson: Start a 529 plan

As such, the lesson is to start a 529 plan today while the child is relatively young. You get a tax deduction for the amount you save – and thus won’t have a large bill you can’t afford to pay when they turn 18 and go off to college. NY Child Support law generally requires a parent to pay their share of college in addition to basic support so long as (a) the parent has the financial means to do so (or had such means & just foolishly failed to save), (b) attendance at college could be reasonably anticipated.