Raising a child to adulthood is costly and time-consuming, but ultimately rewarding. Seeing a young adult become independent, start a career and build a family can more than offset the sacrifices needed to reach that point.
The total financial investment parents make may increase substantially if a young adult intends to pursue a college education. College degrees open doors to higher-paying, more competitive careers. Unfortunately, young adults often struggle to cover the cost of college. They usually rely on their parents for tuition and their living expenses until they finish their schooling.
Can parents in Alaska request continuing child support through the college years to help cover major expenses?
Mandatory support ends after high school
Some states extend child support orders in scenarios where children enroll full-time in college immediately after high school. Alaska does not currently have any regulatory framework for college child support.
Support obligations generally end either when a young adult graduates from high school or on their 19th birthday if they do not graduate when they are 18.
Realistically, the financial assistance provided through child support is far lower than the likely cost generated by college attendance. Parents may be able to negotiate directly with one another and reach an agreement where they divide the costs of a child’s college expenses, but they cannot expect child support to adequate address those costs.
Understanding the limits of child support and seeking arrangements that encourage a young adult’s career ambitions can be important for divorcing parents in Alaska. Parents typically cannot extend government-enforceable child support arrangements beyond a young adult’s high school years, even if they continue their education for another four years after graduation.