[null and void]

Required? No. Never.

That being said, I'm giving my daughter an educational stipend every month she's in school.

[Mo1]

Forced ? ... No

[for-q-clinton]

Here's the crock. The gov't looks at the parents income to determine grants and loans for the student. Why? The parents are no longer required to support that adult, so why look at their income?

[pgkdan]

Required? Nope. It would be nice but shouldn't be required.

[BipolarBob]

When did college become a right and not a privilege?

It became a right when scholarships could not fulfill all of the minority/illegalalien/foreign students needs. So if you are middle income you will pay if Junior says he wants his college degree. His higher costs subsidize the other students. I knew you would be pleased.

[bigcat32]

My parents gave me $0.00 for college. I worked for the $$.

[Mr. K]

If you don't love your children and have a good enough relationship that you are glad to pay for any education they can get, then there are deeper problems.

I will be happy to do whatever I can forever for my daughters.

[theDentist]

nope. my ad payed the first sememster college. then he said if I want to continue, I have to pay for it on my own... and it was a good way to get me to be more responsible.

[catroina54]

no,
and parents should not be required to co-sign educational loans either--
and having said this ,
children should be educated and trained in the "art" of saving and managing money.

[luckystarmom]

In a 2 parent household, they shouldn't be forced.

Now, in the case of a divorce if before the divorce there was a plan for the kids to go to college, then maybe a parent should be required to pay.

[dalereed]

If they haven't grown up enough to pay their own way in life by 18, boot their tails out.

[HEY4QDEMS]

I have a deal with my daughter.

She is going to college on student loans in her name. I told her if she graduates, I will pay them for her, but if she quits or flunks out, then she's on the hook for them.

She's a good student so the gesture is purely symbolic but I still mean it and she knows it.

[Zeroisanumber]

Forced? No. But I'll kick in for my kids education.

[Eva]

I knew a non-custodial father whose wife and son took him to court for college tuition. The kid had been offered a full scholarship to Penn State, but wanted to go to Harvard, and thought that the father should pay. The kid went to Penn State and lost his scholarship for poor grades and went back to the father for the money.

[tcostell]

Only if they are rich middle class, white, and at least one surviving parent is male. For everyone else the government will pay.

[Eva]

I should mention that the father is a cook, not an investment banker or something.

[meyer]

After the age of 18 should a parent/parents be responsible for college and living expenses?

NO! They should be allowed to boot the young adults out on their kiesters if they so please.

[dfwgator]

I look at it this way. You want them to save as much money as possible when they are in their early twenties, because that will make a huge difference in the amount of money they will have when they retire.

[Beagle8U]

Some judges will order strange things in a divorce case but few will order payment for college expenses for a Joe lunchbucket family.

I'm not sure but I don't think they can even order child support past the age the child reaches 21.

[MEGoody]

After the age of 18 should a parent/parents be responsible for college and living expenses?

No, but if they desire to handle those expenses for their child, they certainly are free to do so.