This bill amends existing child support laws to extend parental obligations to include financial support for a child's post-high school education, specifically college and other post-secondary educational expenses. The proposed changes to RSA 461-A:14, IV state that child support will continue until the child graduates from college or reaches the age of 22, whichever comes first, rather than terminating at age 19 as previously stipulated. Additionally, the bill modifies RSA 461-A:14, V to clarify that child support orders can require contributions to a child's educational expenses beyond high school, and it introduces RSA 461-A:21, which allows parents to agree on contributions for post-college educational expenses as part of a court-approved decree.

The bill also includes specific insertions and deletions to the current law. Notably, it replaces the term "high school" with "college" in the context of educational expenses and changes the age limit for child support obligations from 19 to 22 years. Furthermore, it allows for the possibility of parents agreeing to contribute to their child's educational expenses beyond college, with the requirement that such agreements be documented and approved by the court. The act is set to take effect on January 1, 2027.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 461-A:14
HB1781 text: 461-A:14, 461-A:21