Dis-Orientation: Back to School and Divorce

by Eva Sachs CFP CDFA

Traditionally, autumn is a boom season for divorce, particularly for couples, who wait out the summer at the cottage before returning home to cut their marital ties. Many couples considering splitting decide to wait until after the holidays to break the news to their children. How are these parents going to approach their separation or divorce – and how will it affect their children?   Obviously school-year separations can be difficult for school-age children. Parents need to bend over backwards to minimize the changes and transitions in their child’s life so as to keep school-related schedules, after-school activities, playtime with friends and other routines as much the same as possible.  

Parents with university aged children face the additional burden of having kids who are moving away from home.  The added stress of dealing with ever increasing tuition costs and related school expenses makes divorce at this stage more complex.

As couples work through their separation agreement, they should be aware of the many financial issues that affect them and their children beyond the traditional items of child support. They should be considering such things as:

• Is there enough savings set aside for tuition and room& board expenses
• How will any shortfall be funded by each parent?
• Who manages any RESP plan set up for the student?
• What additional expenses will students/parents incur as a result of parents living apart
• Who will benefit from any tuition tax credit available to transfer to a parent

Sending kids off to university is an exciting and challenging time for both students and parents alike. Dealing with divorce at this stage in your family’s life adds additional challenges. If you need help sorting through the financial issues around these issues, we may be in the position to help.

A conversation with our panel of divorce professionals about supportive approaches to divorce

TORONTO
Sept. 24th 2009

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Eva Sachs, CFP, CDFA
Phone 416.232.1540
Fax 647.436.3828
Email esachs@womenindivorce.ca
www.womenindivorce.ca