Student loan debt can take a toll on your child’s future. Therefore, planning for your child’s college is crucial. If you are divorced, however, you may find planning for college to be particularly difficult.

You are likely wondering how your child’s other parent will make decisions about paying for college when it is time for your child to earn a degree. Here are some tips for planning for college after a divorce:

Plan Early

In the United States, there is a trend growing at an alarming rate. Failure to pay court-ordered child support is not something that is acceptable especially when lives depend on that income. Each year, approximately $24 billion dollars are successfully paid across the country. Compare that number to the over $100 billion that remains unpaid. About 25 million parents are not receiving any support, leaving 19% of those awarded support being paid. These numbers are troubling, and lawmakers across the country are cracking down on so-called “deadbeat parents.”

Illinois Consequences

If you reside in the state of Illinois or otherwise have your support payments set up to this state, you face serious trouble for not paying on time each month. The Non-Support Punishment Act enables the state, and occasionally also at a federal level, to utilize harsh penalties to force payment. These penalties include:

It has become a well-branded term in our society today, the “deadbeat dad” but the legal definition of those unwilling to honor their financial obligations under a court-appointed child support order actually shows no gender preference.

The legal definition refers to deadbeat parents as those of either gender who freely fail to be supportive parents or those who opt out of paying their child support obligations. Not only has this situation been a state level problem but it also has caught the attention of federal agencies as well.

One in particular, the Office of Inspector General, United States Department of Health and Human Services (OIG), operates the Most Wanted Deadbeat Parents child enforcement website that posts “most-wanted” type photos of those who have refused to pay their child support.

College is expensive and it is not getting any cheaper. While the law is not clear on a parent’s general duty to pay for college, Illinois does allow family court judges to order a parent to pay for college as a form of child support.

When Does Child Support End?

Typically, child support obligations end when a child turns 18. However, there are many exceptions to this rule. If a child has a severe impairment, support can continue past the age of 18. If a child is going to be attending college, child support may be ordered past the age of 18 to pay for that education. A child has until they are 23 or receive a bachelor’s degree, whichever happens first, to receive these extended child support benefits.

Divorce is never easy, but when couples discuss and negotiate the big issues outside of court, they tend to experience less stress, overall. One of the most important issues are those related to children, such as custody arrangements, child visitation, and child support. If you have children and are planning on going through a divorce, you might find these tips for negotiating the split of child-related expenses helpful during your discussions.

Remember What Is Most Important

Agreeing while you are getting ready to go through a divorce can seem impossible, but it is important to remember what is most important when discussing child-related matters: the health, happiness, and welfare of your kids. If necessary, bring a negotiator into the discussions. Just make sure it is someone that is impartial to the outcome and is only focused on ensuring that the children receive the best of both of their parents.