College Tuition Child Support NJ

In New Jersey, college costs and child support for an unemancipated child are generally considered as "two discrete yet related obligations imposed on parents." Hudson v. Hudson, 315 N.J. Super. 577, 584, 719 A.2d 211 (App.Div.1998); See also Raynor v. Raynor, 319 N.J. Super. 591, 613-14, 726 A.2d 280 (App.Div.1999) (noting the interrelationship between college costs and a continuing child-support obligation when determining the obligations of parents). Clearly, in New Jersey, the duty of parental support may include responsibility for the higher education costs of unemancipated children. Kiken v. Kiken, 149 N.J. 441, 449-50, 694 A.2d 557 (1997). N.J.S.A. 2A:4-30.65 provides that a "child support order" can cover a child who has attained the age of majority but is considered unemancipated, and defines a "support order" as an order "for the benefit of a child, . . . which provides for monetary support, health care coverage, arrearages, or reimbursement, and may include related costs and fees, interest, income withholding, attorney's fees, and other relief."