Post-Secondary Child Support in Washington

College Costs, Requirements, and How to Request It

Washington allows courts to order post-secondary educational support, which is financial support for children who continue their education after high school. College support is not automatic. A parent must request it before the existing child support order ends, or the court loses authority to order it. Many parents discover this too late and permanently lose the opportunity to receive help with tuition, housing, books, and other school expenses.

Courts consider several factors when deciding whether to award college support, including the child’s age, their academic performance, their educational goals, and the relationship between the parent and child. The court also evaluates the parents’ financial resources and the child’s own ability to contribute. An attorney helps ensure the request is filed on time, supported with proper evidence, and tailored to the child’s actual cost of attendance, including scholarships and grants.

This page explains how post-secondary support works in Washington, what expenses are included, what documents you need, and how to avoid the most common mistakes that lead to lost financial support.

➡ For more general information visit our page Child Support In Washington State

Myths and Misconceptions About Post-Secondary Child Support in Washington

Myth: “College support happens automatically.”

Post-secondary support must be requested before the underlying support order ends. If you wait too long, the court cannot add it.

Myth: “I can file for college support after my child turns 18.”

Eligibility depends on whether the support order is still active. Filing after termination usually bars support entirely. Some child support orders end when the child turns 18 and it would be too late to petition for post-secondary support for parents under these orders.

Myth: “Only four-year universities qualify.”

Post-secondary support can apply to community colleges, trade programs, technical schools, and certificate programs.

Myth: “Parents always split college costs 50/50.”

Courts divide costs based on each parent’s proportional share of income. The child also often has a share that can be met through scholarships, grants, and financial aid.

Myth: “If my child gets scholarships, I do not have to pay.”

Scholarships reduce the total amount that the child needs for support. But it doesn’t mean that post-secondary support is unnecessary or unwarranted. You may still need to pay post-secondary support if the child needs additional financial support after scholarships are applied.

Myth: “College support cannot be modified.”

College support can be modified if expenses change, if there is new financial information, or if the child’s academic performance or enrollment changes.

Myth: “Estranged children cannot receive post-secondary support.”

A poor parent-child relationship is a statutory factor, but it does not bar support on its own.

Myth: “If we never planned to pay for college, the court will still order it.”

The court considers the parents’ past expectations and whether college support was part of the family’s normal plans. If the parents never intended to contribute to higher education, that is an important factor the court must weigh.

Myth: “I can be required to pay for medical school or graduate school.”

Post-secondary support in Washington usually ends at age 23 and generally covers undergraduate or vocational programs. Courts almost never order parents to pay for graduate or professional degrees.

Eligibility and Requirements

What is post-secondary child support in Washington?

It is financial support for a child who is enrolled in post-high school education, such as college, trade school, or technical programs. Courts can order parents to help pay tuition, housing, books, transportation, and related expenses.

Do I have to pay for college after 18 in Washington?

Possibly. If requested on time, courts may require parents to contribute to college costs based on their financial ability and the child’s needs.

Who qualifies for college support?

Children who are dependent, in school, and making reasonable academic progress may qualify. The court also considers the child’s relationship with each parent.

What programs count for post-secondary support?

Universities, community colleges, skilled trade programs, apprenticeships, and technical schools can all qualify.

Does my child have to be enrolled full-time?

Usually yes. Courts generally require full-time enrollment unless there is a documented reason for a lighter course load.

Do past expectations for college support matter?

Yes. Washington courts consider whether the parents, before separation, expected to help the child with higher education. If the family never planned to pay for college, or if both parents agreed they would not contribute, the court may reduce or deny post-secondary support depending on the other statutory factors.

Can post-secondary support continue if the child attends college part-time?

Possibly. Courts consider the child’s program, academic progress, and the family’s expectations. Part-time enrollment may qualify if it is consistent with the educational path and the order’s requirements.

Does a child living at home during college qualify for post-secondary support?

Yes, depending on the order and circumstances. Courts look at education costs and whether living at home is consistent with the child’s plan and financial needs.

Timing and Deadlines

When do I have to request post-secondary support?

Before the existing child support order ends. Most orders terminate at age 18 or high school graduation, whichever occurs later. Filing even one day late can bar support.

What happens if I miss the deadline to request college support?

The court loses authority to order post-secondary support. Parents cannot revive the request later.

Can I request post-secondary support after my child turns 18?

Possibly yes, but you must request post-secondary support be ordered before the child support order ends. The end of child support will depend on the order. Many end when the child turns 18, so it may be too late if you do not petition before the child is 18. But others last until the later of the child turning 18 or graduating high school, so if the child is still in high school you may be able to petition for post-secondary support even if the child is 18.

Can I add post-secondary support if the original order did not include it?

Probably yes. It depends entirely on the child support order. Many orders are silent on the issue of post-secondary support, which means you can still petition for this to be applied. But some support orders will specify no post-secondary support at all.

Costs and What Gets Covered

What expenses are covered by post-secondary support?

Courts consider tuition, fees, books, housing, food, transportation, and reasonable living expenses associated with school.

Do parents have to split college costs 50/50?

Not necessarily. Courts use the parents’ proportional share of combined income, similar to regular child support. A judge may also order the child to contribute a share of expected expenses. Post-secondary support is rarely a free ride for the student.

Does my child have to pay part of their college costs?

Sometimes. Washington courts sometimes expect the child to contribute. Scholarships, grants, and financial aid count as the child’s share.

How do scholarships and grants affect post-secondary support?

They typically reduce the child’s portion of expenses. After that, each parent pays their proportional share of the remaining costs.

Does financial aid reduce what parents must pay?

More than likely this will. This depends on the court, though. Needs-based aid and merit-based aid reduce the total cost of attendance and that will likely affect the parents’ shares of costs. But in some circumstances that financial aid may only count toward what the child should be paying for themselves and not what the parents would pay.

Can my child live at home and still receive post-secondary support?

This may be possible if positioned correctly. Courts can award college support even if the child lives at home. Living at home reduces the cost of attendance, and the court would likely factor in the value of room and board the parent provides.

Can parents provide in-kind support instead of paying cash?

Sometimes. If a parent provides housing, food, transportation, or other necessary living expenses, the court can treat those contributions as part of that parent’s share of college support, reducing the amount they must pay directly to the other parent or the school.

Evidence and Documentation

What documents do I need to request post-secondary support?

You will need proof of enrollment, cost of attendance (tuition, housing, books, and fees), the child’s grades, financial aid information, and both parents’ income documentation such as pay stubs and tax returns. 

Does my child need to provide transcripts or grades?

The child must be in good standing and progressing toward graduation. While the child’s educational path is their own, transcripts and grades are a common way to verify progress if communication is otherwise not good.

What if my child will not provide their grades or enrollment records?

The court may deny support if the child refuses to provide required documents. Post-secondary support requires cooperation.

➡ Learn more about options for enforcement at our page Child Support Contempt and Enforcement

Do I need proof of the cost of attendance?

Yes. Courts expect detailed evidence from the school, including tuition schedules and financial aid letters.

Academic and Relationship Factors

Does my child have to maintain good grades for college support?

Generally yes. Courts expect reasonable academic performance and continued progress toward a degree or certification.

Does the parent-child relationship matter for post-secondary support?

The relationship is listed as a factor in Washington law, but courts rarely treat it as decisive. Washington recognizes that parent-child relationships can change during adolescence and early adulthood, and courts generally do not deny college support simply because the relationship is strained.

Can college support be denied if the child is estranged?

It is unlikely. Washington courts usually award post-secondary support even when the relationship is limited, unless the estrangement is extreme and caused by the child without reasonable justification. Most cases emphasize the child’s educational needs and the family’s historical expectations over temporary relationship tension.

Modification and Ending Support

How long does post-secondary support last in Washington?

Post-secondary support usually ends when the child turns 23. Washington law sets a general age cap, and courts almost never extend support beyond 23 unless there are exceptional circumstances such as a severe disability. This means parents are typically responsible only for undergraduate or vocational programs, not graduate or professional school.

Can post-secondary support be modified?

Yes. Support can be modified if costs change, if new financial information becomes available, or if the child’s academic situation changes.

➡ Learn more on our page Modifying Washington Child Support

What happens if my child drops out of college?

Post-secondary support usually ends if the child stops attending school or stops making academic progress.

Does college support stop if my child moves home?

Moving home may reduce some living expenses, which can justify modifying the support order.

What happens if my child drops out of college during the support period?

Post-secondary support does not automatically continue when a child stops attending school. Courts typically require the child to remain enrolled and progressing toward a degree or certificate.

Strategic and Cost Questions

How much does it cost to request post-secondary support?

Attorney’s fees for simple cases often cost between 5,000 and 8,000 dollars. Cases involving contested expenses, complicated college financing, or strained parent-child relationships often cost more, and can go as high as $18,000 or more

Is it worth hiring an attorney for college support cases?

Yes. An attorney ensures your request is timely, supported with evidence, and correctly calculated based on financial aid and cost-of-attendance rules.

What mistakes do parents make when requesting post-secondary support?

The most common mistakes are filing too late, failing to gather cost-of-attendance documents, assuming scholarships eliminate parent contributions, and not presenting the child’s academic records.

Work With Pacific Northwest Family Law to Protect Your Child’s Educational Future

Post-secondary support can make a significant difference in a child’s ability to attend college or pursue skilled training. Missing deadlines, failing to gather evidence, or misunderstanding the cost-of-attendance rules can cause parents to lose financial support permanently. Whether you are seeking college support or responding to a request, an attorney can help you file on time, prepare the necessary documents, evaluate financial aid, and protect your financial future while supporting your child’s education.

 

Reviewed by Attorney Zachary C Ashby, Pacific Northwest Family Law, November 2025.