HB510: HB510 Domestic relations; duration of child support for postsecondary education; provide

Under current Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 19-6-15), child support generally ends when a child turns 18, though a judge can extend it to age 20 if the child is still finishing high school. There is currently no similar option letting judges require support for a child in college or trade school. This bill adds a new provision allowing judges, in divorce, separation, paternity, or related cases, to order either or both parents to help pay for a child's postsecondary education, such as technical school, vocational school, college, or university. That support could continue until the child turns 24. Courts would have to verify the child is actually enrolled and attending, and would consider tuition, fees, and other related expenses when setting the amount. The change would apply to support orders entered on or after July 1, 2025, when the bill would take effect.

• Adds a new option letting judges order parents to pay financial support for a child attending technical school, vocational school, college, or university.
• Caps this postsecondary support at age 24, compared to the existing age 20 cap for a child still finishing high school.
• Requires courts to verify the child's enrollment and attendance before ordering or continuing this support.
• Directs courts to factor in tuition, fees, and other enrollment-related expenses when setting the support amount.
• Allows either parent, a nonparent custodian, a guardian, or the child themselves to enforce this postsecondary support order.
• Applies only to support orders entered on or after July 1, 2025, when the law would take effect.

Divorced, separating, or unmarried parents involved in child support cases in Georgia, their children who pursue education after high school, and judges handling divorce, separate maintenance, legitimacy, and paternity cases who would gain new discretion to order this support.

Families going through divorce or paternity cases could see child support extend well beyond age 18 if a child goes to college or trade school, potentially easing the financial burden of tuition and fees on one parent, while the other parent could face a longer support obligation than under current law.

• Section 1 amends O.C.G.A. § 19-6-15(e) by keeping the existing rule that support for a minor ends at majority, death, marriage, or emancipation, with an option to extend to age 20 for a child finishing high school.
• Section 1 adds new paragraph (e)(2) letting courts order parents to pay for postsecondary education support for orders entered on or after July 1, 2025.
• This postsecondary support cannot be required after the child turns 24 years old.
• Courts must require verification of the child's enrollment and attendance at the technical school, vocational school, college, or university.
• Courts must consider tuition, fees, and other related expenses when setting the amount of postsecondary support.
• The postsecondary support provision can be enforced by either parent, a nonparent custodian, a guardian, or the child themselves.
• Section 2 sets the effective date as July 1, 2025, applying to all support orders entered on or after that date.
• Section 3 repeals conflicting laws.

1. 2025-02-21House Second Readers (House)
2. 2025-02-20House First Readers (House)
3. 2025-02-19House Hopper (House)

• Derrick Jackson (D, HD-068)Primary sponsor
• Kim Schofield (D, HD-063)
• Kimberly Alexander (D, HD-066)
• Viola Davis (D, HD-087)
• Lydia Glaize (D, HD-067)
• Imani Barnes (D, HD-086)

• child support
• family law
• divorce
• college costs
• postsecondary education