In New York State, a parent’s obligation to pay child support terminates when the child reaches the age of 21. However, in situations where a parent is charged with the financial responsibility of paying for the child’s college education, this support obligation may extend well beyond the age of 21. In the case of Lamb v. Amigone, 12 A.D.3d 1165 (4th Dept. 2004), the Appellate Division, Fourth Department, held that unless the parties’ Separation Agreement made a specific reference to parental contribution toward college expenses terminating at the age of majority, the parental college expense contribution continued beyond the age of 21.
That result was also reached by the Appellate Division, Fourth Department, in Schonour v. Johnson, 27 A.D.3d 1059 (4th Dept. 2006), where the Court held that where “[i]n their stipulation, the parties did not place any age limitation on their mutual promises to contribute to the costs of their daughters’ undergraduate college educations”, the appellant was obligated to pay for his daughters’ four years of college education regardless of their age.
Similarly, the court can order payment of college expenses even when the child reaches the age of majority if special circumstances exist. See Domestic Relations Law § 240 [1-b] [c] [7]; also, Krouner v. Urbach, 267 A.D.2d 575 (3rd Dept. 1999); Smith v Smith, 174 AD2d 818, 819 (3rd Dept. 1991).
Thus, both stipulations of settlement and settlement agreements must be carefully prepared and reviewed to make sure that they conform with the parties’ intent. Otherwise, the parties may find themselves in court, relitigating provisions of their settlement many years later.