Posted on 11/14/2014 9:39:38 AM PST by GrandJediMasterYoda
New Jersey parents ordered to pay estranged adult daughter's college tuition Michael Ricci and Maura McGarvey said their daughter, 21-year-old Caitlyn Ricci, hasn't spoken to them since she voluntarily moved out in 2013. Shortly after she left home she sued for college tuition — and a judge demanded Thursday her parents pay $16,000 of her Temple University tuition. BY MEG WAGNER
Two New Jersey parents will have to foot the bill for their adult daughter’s college tuition ― even though she hasn’t spoken to them in two years, they claimed.
Temple University junior Caitlyn Ricci sued her estranged parents for tuition money in 2013. On Thursday, a Camden County judge ordered the divorced couple to cough up $16,000 every year the 21-year-old is enrolled in classes.
Caitlyn Ricci’s grandparents paid for the lawyer she used to sue their own son, WPVI reported. They said Ricci’s unsupportive parents ― Michael Ricci and Maura McGarvey ― kicked her out of the family home two years ago.
The divorced couple said they never turned their back on their daughter: Instead, she left her mother’s home, refusing to accept house rules like chores and a curfew, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported.
(Excerpt) Read more at nydailynews.com ...
There are a lot of bitter divorced fathers out there, for that reason.
I think Massachusetts does too. I once talked with a guy who was divorced up there. He turned down a really good job opportunity in another state because his kid was enrolled in a state college and if he left he would have been required to pay the out-of-state tuition.
Wow. I had no clue it could be that bad.
What happens if the parents move out of New Jersey? Does the state continue to hound them for the tuition money no matter where they live?
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If the parents are forced to pay, shouldn't they, in turn, then have the right to choose the college the daughter attends, say, a much cheaper college, like an in-state public college? I understand Temple is an expensive private college.
Myself, either I would appeal or I wouldn't pay.
Does this ruling apply to just her undergraduate studies?
What would have happened if the daughter had chosen an expensive college in Europe? Would the parents have been forced to pay those expenses also? In my opinion, the judge is way off base.
Yes...and the Feds will help.
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What can parents do today to protect themselves from such a horrible ruling in the future?
This young woman had better do well in life with her college degree or otherwise, because I have a feeling she shouldn’t count on future financial help or an inheritance from her parents. She will probably end up being an ingrate to the granny who helped her as well.
When our kids went to university, I told them “your parents managed to pay their own way through… you can do it too. Don’t expect any help from us.” In the end, we did help them out but that financial arrangement was part gift (based on how much skin in the game they were prepared to put) and part loan for which the repayment is structured over 10 years after graduation. In the end, I saw no other way to make it fair for all the kids since not all of them wanted to do post-secondary education. I’d be interested in hearing how others have done this.
Short of changing the law, both state and federal, I don't know.
That would require a culture change, which will not happen soon.
Short of that, don't have children.
It's a dog's stew of choices.
There's only one family.
I hope that when/if maturity hits this young woman can create a working relationship with her parents.
As I read in other posts his ruling is right in line with their state law. If those posts are correct....""Here in NJ, when parents divorce, they are required to pay their children's college tuition."
Well, I have seen divorced fathers forced to pay for their children’s college tuition, even if they turn 21...I’d have to do a lot of legwork to find the case though.
They are as dysfunctional as the kid.
YES! As far as I know, that is: In the case of divorce, the parents are required to pay their children's* college tuition for four years, BUT (1) that doesn't mean they have to pay for the most expensive college, and (2) they're responsible for the amount AFTER all scholarships, tuition aid, etc. have been applied.
Temple is a public university, but it's expensive for out-of-state students. The daughter apparently had two years at a NJ community college and then transferred to the university.
* Note: I used the word "children" to mean adult children; I realize they're adults at college age.
Does this ruling apply to just her undergraduate studies?
In divorce cases, the parents are responsible for the first four years (bachelor's degree). I don't know if that's what this ruling says, though.
I wanted to find a website with more info for you. And I found http://www.divorcenet.com/states/new_jersey/payment_of_college_costs
Interestingly, it says this:
There are certain situations in which a contribution to college is arguably not warranted. The most obvious situation is when a child is alienated from a parent and refuses all contact despite the parent’s efforts to maintain a relationship. Even though there is no relationship, the child still requests that parent be held responsible for college. A very perplexing question then arises. Is the child who unreasonably refuses to have a relationship with a parent entitled to a contribution to college? The answer to this dilemma is determined on a case-by-case basis.
So far, only my firstborn is in college. Fortunately, thanks to his SAT score, he qualified for practically a full ride at one college.
My other children will do their best with the SAT and hope for scholarships, too; otherwise, they can start at community college and transfer later, or they might opt for career programs instead.
Either way, I'm not worried anymore. I've heard now from the firstborn about all the trouble on campus, so I'm not sure it'd be so bad if the younger ones didn't go straight to university.
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