Out of state tuition divorce

[Anonymous]

Child was accepted and wants to attend an out-of-state school. Our divorce agreement states that we have joint custody, but child has been living with me for many yeas and visiting other parent on some breaks and a bit in summer. I have provided the college with a copy of our custody agreement.

According to the college, all that is needed now is a copy of the other parent’s drivers license for proof of residency. That parent now will not cooperate by providing documentation and it looks like we will not get out of state tuition.

Anyone been through this? Thoughts?

I’m considering having child start to establish residency right away so out of state would only be for one year.

[Anonymous]

* will not get in state tuition

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Child was accepted and wants to attend an out-of-state school. Our divorce agreement states that we have joint custody, but child has been living with me for many yeas and visiting other parent on some breaks and a bit in summer. I have provided the college with a copy of our custody agreement.

According to the college, all that is needed now is a copy of the other parent’s drivers license for proof of residency. That parent now will not cooperate by providing documentation and it looks like we will not get out of state tuition.

Anyone been through this? Thoughts?

I’m considering having child start to establish residency right away so out of state would only be for one year.

Many states have rules to prevent college students from doing this and gaining in state residency, so check carefully. Can you get a lawyer to write a letter or file a motion to compel the documentation you need from other parent?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Child was accepted and wants to attend an out-of-state school. Our divorce agreement states that we have joint custody, but child has been living with me for many yeas and visiting other parent on some breaks and a bit in summer. I have provided the college with a copy of our custody agreement.

According to the college, all that is needed now is a copy of the other parent’s drivers license for proof of residency. That parent now will not cooperate by providing documentation and it looks like we will not get out of state tuition.

Anyone been through this? Thoughts?

I’m considering having child start to establish residency right away so out of state would only be for one year.

who approached other parent for the documentation?

Many schools will not change the out of state status of a student once enrolled. Some have rules about not being enrolled for a full year before being able to change to an in state status.

[Anonymous]

You want the other parent to lie and say that the kid lives with them? I wouldn't do that either, it's fraud. Pony up and pay the OOS tuition.

[Anonymous]

I thought the school wanted to know if either parent was paying taxes in their state? I have a friend whose child resided with her in PA, but their ex husband lived in Ohio.
The child received in state tuition at Ohio State.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You want the other parent to lie and say that the kid lives with them? I wouldn't do that either, it's fraud. Pony up and pay the OOS tuition.

Why do you think it is fraudulent? OP and Ex have joint custody. Ex lives in that state and pays taxes to the state. Why shouldn't OP's child benefit from in-state tuition? Seems perfectly fine to me.

OP, why do you think your ex is refusing? Is this just to be annoying or is there an actual logical reason? If it is just to be annoying, I think your kid needs to fly out, spend a weekend with dad, and beg for him to provide the paperwork. Kid can upload the documentation. I'd try and stay out of it as much as possible.

[Anonymous]

If you have legal, joint custody, have the school counselor contact the ex.

[Anonymous]

Print a copy of other parents real estate tax assessment. You can look it up on real estate tax website by address, should show their name. That should be proof enough. Also, perhaps you live in a state that publishes its voter registration/party declaration information.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you have legal, joint custody, have the school counselor contact the ex.

This is a good idea. A neutral party (not a lawyer, so doesn't seem "aggressive"). I think that kid should be the one to take the lead in getting this done. If kid wants to go to school there, they need to be the point person dealing with dad.

[Anonymous]

^^ plus I bet court papers will match tax assessment address.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thought the school wanted to know if either parent was paying taxes in their state? I have a friend whose child resided with her in PA, but their ex husband lived in Ohio.
The child received in state tuition at Ohio State.

Exactly. It's about taxes and the non-custodial parent has been paying taxes in that state. The state actually gets off easier b/c they didn't have to educate the child in their public school system.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Child was accepted and wants to attend an out-of-state school. Our divorce agreement states that we have joint custody, but child has been living with me for many yeas and visiting other parent on some breaks and a bit in summer. I have provided the college with a copy of our custody agreement.

According to the college, all that is needed now is a copy of the other parent’s drivers license for proof of residency. That parent now will not cooperate by providing documentation and it looks like we will not get out of state tuition.

Anyone been through this? Thoughts?

I’m considering having child start to establish residency right away so out of state would only be for one year.

Unlikely (otherwise nearly ALL students would be instate year 2).

Read school's residency rules. Agree with others below on seeking publicly available property and or prop tax records (e.g., in Maryland SDAT is one such database with owners listed by adress).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You want the other parent to lie and say that the kid lives with them? I wouldn't do that either, it's fraud. Pony up and pay the OOS tuition.

That's not how it works. Usually, if a parent is a resident of the state, the kid is considered in state even if he doesn't live with thecparent.

[Anonymous]

Has your child made this request to your ex? They should approach them and explain in-state vs out-of state tuition and how they’d be eligible for in-state.