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<p>In <strong>In re the Marriage of Bernardo Garcia and Maria M. Garcia n/k/a Maria Morales</strong>, the Illinois Appellate Court addressed the parents’ contributions to their older daughter’s colleg...
Full Case Summary
In In re the Marriage of Bernardo Garcia and Maria M. Garcia n/k/a Maria Morales, the Illinois Appellate Court addressed the parents’ contributions to their older daughter’s college expenses after divorce.
Bernardo and Maria divorced in 2009, agreeing to contribute equally to college costs. In March 2022, Maria petitioned for half of their daughter’s tuition at DePaul University. Bernardo argued she should have chosen a cheaper option and that he lacked funds. But the court found his testimony lacking credibility and ordered each parent pay $12,000, totaling $24,000. Bernardo moved to reconsider, and was denied.
The appellate court upheld the ruling, noting the marital settlement had them split costs based on ability. It found no abuse of discretion in deeming Bernardo financially able and rejecting his complaint about lack of consultation. The daughter’s attendance at a private university was not per se unreasonable, so the parents split the cost. Judgment affirmed.