I don’t see where you have any alternative but to go back to court. You have other kids to support and to ultimately put through college. You cannot let your daughter’s desire to go to a $60,000+ a year college put you in a position where you won’t be able to educate your younger children. It sounds like you can’t afford to pay for this school without significant loans. Even if you could scrape the money together for her first year, in your current situation you won’t be able to do that for four years. You do your daughter no favors by letting her start at a school she won’t be able to afford to stay at. And there’s no guarantee, even if your ex fills out the paperwork, that you’ll get much aid. They’re going to look at your income, your wife’s income and your ex’s income. And they’ll consider everyone’s assets (including business assets), as well. Do as a poster above suggests and run the school’s NPC. Good luck, it sounds like you’re trying to do the right thing in an impossible situation.