A recent study suggests that just 27% of children of divorced parents had earned bachelor's degrees or higher, as opposed to 50% of children of married parents. 

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Researchers at Iowa State University studied data compiled from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, which was a U.S. Labor Department Survey.

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According to researchers, the causes of why children of divorced parents are only half as likely to earn degrees, as opposed to children of married parents, are still unclear. 

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Obviously, finances play a major role in whether children will attend college. A couple who goes through a divorce, faces certain financial disadvantages.

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Divorce in Illinois, as in most other states, divides financial assets of two persons. Prior to divorcing, the couple shared their finances and shared expenses. Upon a divorce, each spouse is allocated a portion of the marital finances and assets; however, now that portion of assets has to support two households. The divorced spouses now have double the expenses, most importantly two mortgage or rent expenses. This means that a larger percentage of each spouses finances are going toward living expenses, as opposed to when they were married and living under the same roof. The increased living expenses translate to less disposable income, and therefore less of an opportunity to provide for college expenses for their children.

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In Illinois, a common question our divorce attorneys are asked is "if I get divorced, who will pay for the children's college?" 

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Illinois divorce law allows one spouse to petition the Court to order the other spouse to contribute to college expenses. There is never a guarantee that a divorce judge in Illinois will require one or both divorced parents to contribute to college. It is up to the discretion of the judge. Divorced parents do not have a legal obligation to pay for their children's college. The divorce judge will need to consider the financial ability of both divorced parents. The judge will also need to consider whether one or both parents should be saving their money for retirement as opposed to paying for their children's college. 

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If you reside in Lake County or Cook County, please feel free to call us or schedule a free consultation with one of our divorce attorneys. We have offices in Lincolnshire, Illinois and Hoffman Estates, Illinois. You should always consult with a divorce or family law attorney near you, if you have any questions prior to filing for divorce. Divorce in Illinois is rarely a quick process. It is common to ask "how long does a divorce take?"; however, the answer is highly dependent on the issues in dispute and the spouses ability to reach a settlement.  DPG Family Law is a top ranked divorce firm in Illinois. We have been rated as one of the best divorce law firms in Cook and Lake County. Our divorce attorneys are always happy and willing to answer any questions you may have.