Parents paying for college is no empty phrase. We all know "parents are liable for their children", and that is indeed the case. So financial care extends beyond childhood. And that can include the semester abroad, the required internships and, of course, the studies themselves. Consequently, the right to child support applies, and it is a rather complex area of law. After all, the "children" don't necessarily have to work during their studies, since the parents surely made provisions. In many families this can become a point of conflict, because when it comes to money, a good deal of love for the "children" comes to an end.

Parents paying for college, and they are obligated to

Do students now receive support payments, and are they entitled to this "mandatory share"? Yes, because there is no fixed age limit in the German Civil Code under § 1601 BGB, so the dear parents are obligated. Whether it suits them or not, parents pay for college. That doesn't sound right to many people. But students need the time to study and not to work part-time jobs. But are there no limits, or are mother and father simply exposed to this claim for support.

  • There are limits if the studies are pursued purposefully and seriously.
  • There are limits if the standard period of study is not significantly exceeded.

Then the parents have to step in. Otherwise you can inform yourself and don't have to finance your offspring semester after semester. So keep your eyes and ears open about how things are going with the "children". Because if problems arise during the semester and the parents are not sufficiently informed, they have drawn the short straw here too. Here, too, they have to pay and finance the additional costs. That doesn't sound particularly nice, but that is how it is.

Parents paying for college

Parents paying for college, whether they want to or not

Not everyone has been blessed with a windfall, and parents reach their financial limits. With vocational training, it is quickly clear that the child finances themselves. With college, things look quite different. There, students depend on their parents and mother and father then open their wallets. The duty of support exists even after the studies, and so the little ones are in the clear. But also if the field of study was chosen wrongly. So college is not always the be-all and end-all and can drive parents into financial ruin.

Parents paying for college, and how high does the financial contribution have to be?

Here too, rules and laws are in charge. There has to be a basis for living. Especially when the "children" are not yet standing on their own two feet. And so the so-called Düsseldorf Table (the German guideline for child support amounts) comes into play. For students, mind you, and these can be ones with their own household. Accordingly, there is no obligation to work, since the parents provide for that. Parents paying for college effectively come out on the losing end, and so the studies and their duration are never predictable. The BAföG office is then also an option and can help with an application for advance payment.