Among the challenges facing separated parents is one that sometimes remains unspoken: the stigma attached to divorce. There are countless articles devoted to the topic: how divorce can affect workplace performance, a person’s standing in social circles, and the long term physical and mental effects of ending a marriage, all of which come with subtle biases from others.

In this context is it interesting to view the federal lawsuit just reported in the news this month. The lawsuit claims that the University of Pennsylvania, Villanova University and 38 other private universities forced students with divorced parents to pay more in tuition and fees than students of married parents. The suit explained that the universities considered both parents’ incomes during the application process, even when only one parent had primary physical custody, which resulted in reduced financial aid offerings. Also named in the lawsuit was the College Board, which administers the college applications.

Historically, universities varied in how they handled financial aid for students of divorced parents. Some considered only the custodial parent’s income. That changed in 2006, when the College Board began requiring financial information from both parents. Many universities adopted this approach, leading to accusations of conspiring to undercut the competition with a single strategy that lowered overall financial aid. According to the article, the average tuition at the universities involved is $6,200 higher than at the 10 most prestigious private universities that don’t participate in this practice. Pennsylvania has the third-highest average student debt in the country, with students owing over $39,000 on average. Nearly two-thirds of Pennsylvania college students carry some form of debt.

Knowing the law and having a top divorce lawyer in Pennsylvania on your side can help you develop an early strategy and offensively prepare for the future financial challenges of divorce. Contact us at Williams Family Law by phone at 215-340-2207 or email info@bucksfamilylawyers.com.