How Florida Courts Decide on Private School Costs for Children

In Florida, can you compel your spouse to pay for or contribute to the costs associated with private school tuition? Yes, provided that certain factors are present.

Request Must Be Made in the Petition or Counter-Petition

First, many Florida divorce attorneys make this critical mistake, which I often see in my practice. In order to invoke the court’s jurisdiction to make such an award, a request to compel a party to pay for or contribute to the cost of private school must be set forth in the petition or counter-petition. If it is not present, then the court does not have the ability to award that relief.

Financial Ability, Standard of Living, and the Child’s Best Interests

Second, in order to convince the judge to award this type of relief, the following factors must be present: 

• The spouse has the actual ability to pay for it 
• The expenses must be in accordance with the parties’ standard of living 
• Attending a private school is in the child’s best interests 

If you have more questions regarding this or other issues, please call a Florida divorce attorney at our firm, and we will be happy to talk to you and provide you with more details.

Speak With a Florida Divorce Attorney Today

The Florida divorce attorneys at Winthrop Law Offices, P.A., are dedicated to providing every client with the answers they need to make informed decisions. Contact our firm today to schedule a free consultation.