<p>Curious whether anyone has any stories of pitfalls that might not be obvious (thinking of legal/financial). I know my kids’ EFC will go up 
We have no spousal maintenance agreement, so that wouldn’t be affected. Anyone have any thoughts on this?</p>
<p>Why would the kids’ EFC go up if the ex remarries? Do they take into account, the new spouses’ income, even if he/she doesn’t adopt the kids? And aren’t they majors once they’re in college, or does child support extend beyond 18 when they’re in school?</p>
<p>Husband did just reunite with an old college buddy who was celebrating his release from child support, even though his “child” was 23 years old. The youngster finally gave up on going to college, after several years as a “professional” student.</p>
<p>If your child becomes one of those “professional students” and you’re divorced from the spouse who bore the child, do you have to pay for their education as long as they’re in school? There’s got to be an age cutoff, I would hope.</p>
<p>The FAFSA EFC wouldn’t be affected, but colleges using the CSS profile usually look at the full household income of both parents, and make their decisions accordingly.</p>
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<p>The only time the FAFSA EFC is affected by a parent remarrying is if the parent is the CUSTODIAL parent of the student applicant. So of the ex husband is the parent with whom the kiddo spends more than 50% of their time, then yes…the EFC would be affected. Otherwise, non-custodial parents don’t report on the FAFSA AT ALL…EVER.</p>
<p>But yes…the Profile counts EVERYONE…if the school requires the non-custodial parent Profile. Some schools actually do NOT require the non-custodial parent Profile…so again the remarriage wouldn’t matter there either. BUT for most Profile schools EVERYONE gets to report, parents, and spouses…and it doesn’t matter whether they plan to contribute to the kiddo’s education or not…they ARE contributing to the household incomes.</p>
<p>Does your ex currently help pay for college costs and does his intended bride also have kids? I think I’d try to find out if he’s expecting to continue contributions at the current/planned rate, especially if he’s not legally required to do so.</p>
<p>Speaking from experience, all I can say is good luck…prepare for the worst and hope to be pleasantly surprised!</p>
<p>Just wanted to say good luck. When my ex husband got remarried, it was a little big of an emotional struggle for my daughters and myself. The relationship between all of us is pretty good, but of course there is still some pain there.</p>
<p>*Curious whether anyone has any stories of pitfalls that might not be obvious (thinking of legal/financial). I know my kids’ EFC will go up We have no spousal maintenance agreement, so that wouldn’t be affected. Anyone have any thoughts on this? *</p>
<p>Will the new wife refuse to provide her financial info for CSS Profile NCP paperwork? or will she demand that her new H not provide the info?</p>
<p>Will the new wife resent any financial assistance for your children’s education?</p>
<p>If your ex were to die, has he set up his will so that some/half of his estate will go to his kids…or would it all go to his new wife?</p>
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<p>Unfortunately that’s the ex’s decision. One hopes he wouldn’t do that, but it is his decision.</p>
<p>Be very careful about puting money or property in joint names with your children. None of us like to think about the possibility that one of our children will die. However, if you put anything into joint name with your child and the child dies while (s)he is a minor or without a will, you may end up battling your ex who will be an heir of your child. Yes, this doesn’t depend on remarriage…</p>
<p>But, if your ex should died too, then you will be involved in a conflict with his new spouse.</p>
<p>Very Happy, be careful what you wish for. Everyone is entitled to compose their last will and testamest as they see fit, and in my opinion that’s how it should stay.</p>
<p>With regard to child support, it depends on the jurisdiction. In some states support terminates at the age of majority, which of course is 18. In other places the ‘payer’ must petition the court to end support at 18. And still in other states support is mandated until 21 or the ‘traditional’ time of completion of an undergraduate degree.</p>
<p>D1 attends a school that requires the CSS, and I am sure D2 will as well. So the new spouse’s income will be taken into account. The ex does not currently pay one penny toward D1’s college education. And I don’t expect any change in that 
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<p>Child support ends at 18 in our state. He does pay what he is required to by law and on time. I asked my attorney, and she said the spouse’s assets are not taken into account in our state so this will make no difference.</p>
<p>No idea what he intends to do with his will. Nasty thought that she might get his assets instead of the kids…</p>
<p>Emotionally this is difficult for my kids because they do not like this woman at all. She is the one he cheated with while we were married. Both wish they could avoid attending the wedding altogether, but will go and be civil. They are okay with him, they just dislike her. As a person, not just in her role in his life.</p>
<p>Inparent, if it’s doable, try to sit down with your ex and have a frank and civil discussion about his intentions for his children. I would expressly limit the discussion to the possibility of his [unfortunate] premature death when your children are either still in college or otherwise struggling to begin their own careers. The reality is that he’s not obligated for their care when they become adults, but appeal to his concern for their well-being as young people. A will can stipulate that certain assets won’t be available during pre-determined periods. Ask him to insure that resources will be available to your children during their ‘youth,’ so to speak.</p>
<p>*D1 attends a school that requires the CSS, and I am sure D2 will as well. So the new spouse’s income will be taken into account. *</p>
<p>So, currently, he fills out the form and pays nothing? So, your D gets aid, but you cover the “family contribution”? What if the new wife refuses to provide info? Won’t that mean no aid at all will be given?</p>
<p>No idea what he intends to do with his will. Nasty thought that she might get his assets instead of the kids…</p>
<p>the only reason I brought this up in an earlier post was because of what happened to a friend of mine. Her ex never thought about the issue, and when he died, his substantial assets all went to his new wife…and then when she died, it all went to HER kids. So, wife #1 (my friend) wishes that she had at least mentioned the issue to her ex, to at least put the idea in his head that he should do something to ensure that his kids get something. At least if he still decided to let wife #2 (and her kids) have everything, they would have known for sure that it was his choice. </p>
<p>*Emotionally this is difficult for my kids because they do not like this woman at all. She is the one he cheated with while we were married. Both wish they could avoid attending the wedding altogether, but will go and be civil. They are okay with him, they just dislike her. As a person, not just in her role in his life. *</p>
<p>That would be hard. I don’t think my kids would go in such a situtation. They would not want to be giving the impression of some kind of approval of the behavior that led up to this. </p>
<p>That said, marriages that begin with infidelity have the lowest success rate. Afterall, how can you trust a cheater?</p>
<p>He has filled out the form in the years I have asked him to. Some years I make enough to cover the EFC, but I am an independent contractor. So it varies. And looking ahead, if I were to get sick or couldn’t work for some reason (ill parents or something) while D2 is in college, it would be an issue then. So if everyone stays healthy and the economy is reasonably good, it will not be an issue. But stuff happens in life… </p>
<p>LW, he thinks he will never die… I will probably bring it up, but not right now. They just decided to get married, and apparently plan to do so in the next 8 weeks or so. I am going let the dust settle until summer, I think.</p>
<p>I have been neutral on the kids going/not. D1 is a very polite person. She even managed to say congratulations to him, although she told me she didn’t actually mean it. She will go (but was mumbling to me about how much harder it will be now NOT to invite this woman to her own wedding when it eventually occurs). D2 usually does what D1 does in these situations. If I were him, I wouldn’t even invite them… it is so obvious that neither one wishes them well as a couple. But that is his call. I did say to D2 that if she goes, she has to be civil.</p>