Can my child’s father be ordered to pay for my child’s college education in Florida?
A child who reaches the age of 18 and graduates high school in Florida is no longer under the supervision of the courts within the family law system. A court will not on its own, order the parent to pay for the higher education and college education. However, there can be opportunities in the beginning, in the dissolution of marriage or the establishment of paternity, where parents can agree that they will pay for all of or a portion of a child’s education. Once the judge signs that order, that order is enforceable, even though without an agreement of the parties, a judge on his or her own ruling cannot decide that on their own and cannot enforce it without the agreement of all the parties.