SHORT HILLS NEW JERSEY ESSEX COUNTY DIVORCE MEDIATION COLLEGE EXPENSES

If a parent is estranged/alienated from her/his child, can that parent be compelled to contribute to the college education of that child? Reviewing the tortured relationship between father and son, the New Jersey divorce judge found that the father earned $400,000 per year and had the clear capacity to pay the total amount of his son's college obligation. In addition, the court rejected the request to enforce an unsigned consent agreement he had attempted to procure through negotiations with the mother. The admittedly poor relationship between father and son was insufficient to outweigh remaining factors in the context of the boy's academic commitment and the father's ability to pay. Finally, the mother is mentally ill and financially incapable of making any contribution to the college costs.    Winans v. Winans, New Jersey App. Div., December 11, 2007