Tertiary Education?

My Son turns 18 in a couple of weeks, he is currently in the 2nd year of 6th form, and in September wants to go to college for a year, will my ex still have to pay child maintance, our Consent Order states that child maintenance applies until the age of 18, or until they leave full time tertiary education, but I am not sure what this means.

Thanks

Full-time tertiary education is university/college. So if your child is at either Uni or college, full time after 18, then your ex will be obliged to pay CM. In any case, both parents have a responsibility to financially support their children whilst in full-time education.

Louise

Apologies for adding my query to your post, it is relevant.

I believed, wrongly it seems, that tertiary education did not include University. My son will be finishing U6 this year, he has two offers at University and is awaiting the result of another application.

The Order of Ancillary Relief states

'The Petitioner shall pay or cause to be paid to the respondent for the benefit of the child **** periodical payments until **** attains the age of 17 or finishes full time secondary education whichever is the later'

So if your child is at either Uni or college, full time after 18, then your ex will be obliged to pay CM.

Does this mean that this wont apply to us.

As yet despite ex taking an interest in our sons education he hasnt mentioned to our son whether he will be helping him financially. Unfortunately myself and ex have no communication, his decision.

Thank you

Asram

Louise can you post the exact wording of the order please, this should really have been explained by a solicitor before you signed the order.

Secondary education is not the same as tertiary education asram.

Don't know if this applies,

www.csa.gov.uk/en/case/leaving-education.asp

GH

Secondary education is to the end of school.

Tertiary education is to the end of university - strictly, tertiary education is degree level studies so they might actually be at a further educaiton college. As far as I can see this is usually taken to mean to the end of the undergraduate degree but strictly could mean until the end of all university education including a PhD. Given that there is almost no funding for postgraduate degrees this might well be a good thing from the point of view of the 'child', but could mean that you are paying for a long time.

Sadie

Sadie has just pointed out the problem.

If the order states the end of tertiary education then it can and is argued the order remains in place until the end of university so it could go on for years.

A well drafted order will state until the end of the first degree to prevent confusion.