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Divorce and separation often have a significant financial impact on families, particularly when it comes to the expenses related to children's college education. Managing the challenges created by divorce or separation is already demanding for parents, and the additional stress of figuring out how to finance post-secondary education can be overwhelming. Fortunately, for those in co-parenting or separated-parenting situations, a potential solution lies in the form of a 529 college-savings plan. This financial resource allows parents to save funds with tax advantages, providing a means to alleviate the financial burden associated with higher education expenses.
A 529 plan is an investment plan designed specifically to help families save for college. It functions much like an IRA or 401k: you have the choice to contribute regularly and benefit from tax-deferred growth. All of the distributions you take out of the plan are also tax-free, as long as the money is spent on education-related expenses. 529 plans also offer parents quite a bit of flexibility, since you can use the funds for both college and vocational school, as well as to pay for room and board.
All fifty states and the District of Columbia have at least one 529 plan and are sponsored by states, state agencies, or educational institutions and are authorized by Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code. There are two types of 529 plans:
The process of setting up a 529 plan is relatively straightforward. You begin by selecting a 529 plan from one of the thirty-two states or the District of Columbia. Each of these states/jurisdictions offer their own unique 529 plans, and the fees or benefits associated with each one will vary. Once you’ve selected a plan, you’ll need to decide who will be the plan beneficiary – typically, it will be the parent’s dependent child or grandchild. Once this is established, you can begin contributing to the plan on a tax-advantaged basis.
Investing in a 529 plan may offer college savers special tax benefits. Earnings in 529 plans are not subject to federal tax, and in most cases, state tax, so long as you use withdrawals for eligible college expenses, such as tuition and room and board. However, if you withdraw money from a 529 plan and do not use it on an eligible college expense, you generally will be subject to income tax and an additional 10% federal tax penalty on earnings. You should consult a Tax Advisor before starting a plan.
Fees and expenses vary from plan to plan. You should see the plan prospectus to learn more. Certain state-sponsored plans have no fees. Certain institution-sponsored plans may have very low fees.
If you’re a co-parent or divorced parent, planning for college as a single parent requires that you take special considerations into account. The key here is to ensure that each parent is financially responsible for their share of the future tuition or living expenses. To make this happen, both parents should set up a separate 529 plan, and specify that it’s for their own, specific share (their children’s mother’s 529 plan and her children’s father’s 529 plan, for example). Generally speaking, each parent is allowed to contribute up to $15,000 per child, depending on the 529 plan.
Parents who are divorced or separated may also want to consider the impact their 529 plan might have on other financial aid that may be available to their children. For example, when a student applies for financial aid through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), only the value of one parent’s 529 plan will be counted as part of the student’s assets. This means that both parents can save on a tax-advantaged basis and use their savings for college expenses, without the value of their respective 529 plans impacting the student’s ability to obtain other forms of financial aid.
It’s important for co-parents and separated parents to stay on top of their 529 plan contributions, as well as any extensions that may be available. To insure that each parent’s 529 plan remains independent of each other, each parent should make contributions to their own accounts on a regular basis. This will not only make it easier to track each parent’s share of college expenses, but also ensure that neither parent’s account is unduly impacted by the other’s contribution. In addition, if the co-parent or separation occurred while the student was enrolled in school, some 529 plans may offer an extension to help cover ongoing costs. This kind of option may vary by state, so it’s important to review the specifics of your plan to ensure you are taking advantage of all available opportunities.
Getting divorced or separated is an emotionally and financially difficult situation for families. When children are involved, it’s even more important to ensure that each parent's financial responsibilities are taken seriously and that adequate funds are available to cover their share of the college costs. With a 529 plan, co-parents can save on a tax-advantaged basis to fund their part of the college education for their children. By keeping the accounts separate, each parent can independently contribute to their own 529 plan and be assured that their savings won’t impact the amount of financial aid their children may be eligible for. In this way, 529 plans can be a powerful way for separated or divorced parents to contribute to their children’s future success.
A disagreement about the 529 plan is very well possible if both parents are not on good terms. If required, an agreement should be part of a divorce decree, and only a financial hardship should give a parent an exception. Co-parents can consult their financial advisor to determine how much money they need to set aside to fund their children's education. If they wish to go to college themselves, they can also start a 529 college saving plan.
When setting up a 529 plan, there are several things that divorced or separated parents should consider.
10. Georgia 529 Plan
11. Hawaii 529 Plan
12. Idaho 529 Plan
14. Indiana 529 Plan
15. Iowa 529 Plan
16. Kansas 529 Plan
19. Maine 529 Plan
26. Montana 529 Plan
28. Nevada 529 Plan
35. Ohio 529 Plan
37. Oregon 529 Plan
43. Texas 529 Plan
44. Utah 529 Plan
45. Vermont 529 Plan
50. Wyoming 529 Plan
51. DC 529 Plan
Related:
How to create a budget for a college student raised by divorced parents?
Budgeting for divorced and separated co-parents
Warning: This post is neither financial, health, legal, or personal advice nor a substitute for the advice offered by a professional. These are serious matters, and the help of a professional is recommended as it can impact your future.