| In Rhode Island (RI) Divorce and Child support cases, | | | | court Order. That stipulated consent order could be |
| Can I get the father or mother of my child to be | | | | enforced in a Family Court contempt proceeding. |
| ordered to pay for private school education? | | | | Can I get the father or mother of my child to be |
| No, unless there is a contractual obligation, a stipulated | | | | ordered to pay for college? |
| consent order or there is an ongoing divorce. | | | | No, Unless there is a written contractual agreement |
| Most judges take the position that there are suitable | | | | obligating payment of college expenses. Rhode Island |
| public schools for children to attend. However, If there | | | | child support terminates when a child turns 18 and |
| is something in writing such as a property settlement | | | | graduates high school but not longer then the child |
| agreement obligating one parent to pay for the private | | | | attaining the age of 19. (Unless the child is severely |
| school education of the child, then the parent may be | | | | disabled and then it goes unil the child turns 21) |
| obligated to pay for the private school education. | | | | The Court loses jurisdiction over the child when the |
| Article by Rhode Island divorce, family law and Child | | | | child attains the age as set forth above. The Court |
| Support attorney / lawyer David Slepkow | | | | cannot order payment of college but a Court may |
| (401-437-1100) | | | | enforce a written property settlement agreement |
| Also, the parent could be ordered to pay for private | | | | between the parties obligating payment of college. |
| school education in a divorce on a temporary basis, | | | | David Slepkow is a Rhode Island lawyer concentrating |
| especially when it is in the middle of a school year and | | | | in divorce, family law, personal injury, automobile |
| it would be disruptive for the child to transfer to a | | | | accidents, child support, alimony, custody and visitation. |
| public school. Parents can certainly negotiate payment | | | | David has been practicing for over 9 years and is |
| of private school education and the judge of The | | | | licensed in Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Federal |
| Family Court will usually approve the settlement in a | | | | Court. |