Indiana Code
Ind. Code § 31-16-6-2 (2026)
Expenses for child's education and health care; Title IV-D fees
✓ current as of May 2026
Sec. 2. (a) The child support order or an educational support order may also include, where appropriate:
(1) amounts for the child's education in elementary and secondary schools and at postsecondary educational institutions, taking into account:
(A) the child's aptitude and ability;
(B) the child's reasonable ability to contribute to educational expenses through:
(i) work;
(ii) obtaining loans; and
(iii) obtaining other sources of financial aid reasonably available to the child and each parent; and
(C) the ability of each parent to meet these expenses;
(2) special medical, hospital, or dental expenses necessary to serve the best interests of the child; and
(3) fees mandated under Title IV-D of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 651 through 669).
(b) If the court orders support for a child's educational expenses at a postsecondary educational institution under subsection (a), the court shall reduce other child support for that child that:
(1) is duplicated by the educational support order; and
(2) would otherwise be paid to the custodial parent.
[Pre-1997 Recodification Citations: 31-1-11.5-12(b); 31-1-11.5-12(c).]
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.8. Amended by P.L.2-2007, SEC.361.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 82
cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1999–2024 · leading case: Sebastian v. Sebastian, 798 N.E.2d 224 (Ind. Ct. App. 2003).
Sebastian v. Sebastian, 798 N.E.2d 224 (Ind. Ct. App. 2003). “Zachary's College Expenses Child support payments may properly include expenses for the child's education under Indiana Code section 31-16-6-2: The child support order or an educational support order may also include, where appropriate: (1) amounts for the child's education in…”
Carter v. Dayhuff, 829 N.E.2d 560 (Ind. Ct. App. 2005). “Ind.Code § 31-16-6-2. Our supreme court has stated that the provisions of Indiana Code Section 31-16-6-2 are "amplified" by the Indiana Child Support Guidelines, and that the "guidelines are to be utilized in the resolution of all petitions to determine or modify support.”
Hartley v. Hartley, 862 N.E.2d 274 (Ind. Ct. App. 2007). “Nevertheless, John maintains that the creation of the education trust was inappropriate based on the factors set forth in Indiana Code Section 31-16-6-2, which include the child's aptitude and ability, the child's reasonable ability to contribute to educational expenses through…”
In the Matter of the Marriage of: Mark A. Del Priore v. Jill E. Del Priore, 65 N.E.3d 1065 (Ind. Ct. App. 2016). “He asserts that the Indiana Supreme Court recently held that the term “postsecondary” in Indiana Code section 31-16-6-2 does not include graduate school and that Alyssa’s chosen degree program includes a graduate degree, for which the parties should not be responsible to pay the…”
Hinesley-Petry v. Petry, 894 N.E.2d 277 (Ind. Ct. App. 2008). “Indiana Code Section 31-16-6-2 provides in pertinent part, (a) The child support order or an educational support order may also include, where appropriate: (1) amounts for the child's education.”
Annette (Oliver) Hirsch v. Roger Lee Oliver, 970 N.E.2d 651 (Ind. 2012). “Indiana Code section 31-16-6-2 (2008) gives guidance regarding contribution toward post-secondary educational expenses, listing certain factors to take into account, such as “the child’s aptitude and ability,” “the child’s reasonable ability to contribute to educational…”
In re the Paternity of Makayla Lauren Pickett, Gregg Roberts v. Shonda Pickett, 44 N.E.3d 756 (Ind. Ct. App. 2015). “[19] Indiana Code Section 31-16-6-2(a) provides that a child support order or an educational support order may include (1) amounts for the child’s education in elementary and secondary schools and at postsecondary educational institutions, taking into account: (A) the child’s…”
Marriage of Bean v. Bean, 902 N.E.2d 256 (Ind. Ct. App. 2009). “See I.C. § 31-16-6-2; Moss v. Frazer, 614 N.E.”
Thacker v. Thacker, 710 N.E.2d 942 (Ind. Ct. App. 1999). “Ind.Code § 31-16-6-2 states, in pertinent part: (a) The child support order or an educational support order may also include, where appropriate: (1) amounts for the child's education .”
Brodt v. Lewis, 824 N.E.2d 1288 (Ind. Ct. App. 2005). “See I.C. § 31-16-6-2; Moss v. Frazer, 614 N.E.”
Lechien v. Wren, 950 N.E.2d 838 (Ind. Ct. App. 2011). “Father points to Support Guideline 8, which addresses extraordinary expenses, and Ind.Code § 31-16-6-2, which addresses educational support orders, and argues that he “agrees that an educational ex *845 pense order and child support order are separate and distinct” but that he…”
Lisa Svenstrup v. Thomas Svenstrup, 981 N.E.2d 138 (Ind. Ct. App. 2012). “Indiana Code § 31-16-6-2 sets forth those factors that the Court must take into account in setting an order for education support.”
Ind. Code § 31-16-6-2(0): 1 case
Marriage of Hensley v. Hensley, 868 N.E.2d 910 (Ind. Ct. App. 2007).
Ind. Code § 31-16-6-2(a): 17 cases
Sebastian v. Sebastian, 798 N.E.2d 224 (Ind. Ct. App. 2003). “Zachary's College Expenses Child support payments may properly include expenses for the child's education under Indiana Code section 31-16-6-2: The child support order or an educational support order may also include, where appropriate: (1) amounts for the child's education in…”
Deckard v. Deckard, 841 N.E.2d 194 (Ind. Ct. App. 2006).
In re the Paternity of Makayla Lauren Pickett, Gregg Roberts v. Shonda Pickett, 44 N.E.3d 756 (Ind. Ct. App. 2015). “[19] Indiana Code Section 31-16-6-2(a) provides that a child support order or an educational support order may include (1) amounts for the child’s education in elementary and secondary schools and at postsecondary educational institutions, taking into account: (A) the child’s…”
Marriage of Bean v. Bean, 902 N.E.2d 256 (Ind. Ct. App. 2009). “See I.C. § 31-16-6-2; Moss v. Frazer, 614 N.E.”
Ratliff v. Ratliff, 804 N.E.2d 237 (Ind. Ct. App. 2004).
Ind. Code § 31-16-6-2(a)(1): 7 cases
Hinesley-Petry v. Petry, 894 N.E.2d 277 (Ind. Ct. App. 2008). “Indiana Code Section 31-16-6-2 provides in pertinent part, (a) The child support order or an educational support order may also include, where appropriate: (1) amounts for the child's education.”
In the Matter of the Marriage of: Mark A. Del Priore v. Jill E. Del Priore, 65 N.E.3d 1065 (Ind. Ct. App. 2016). “He asserts that the Indiana Supreme Court recently held that the term “postsecondary” in Indiana Code section 31-16-6-2 does not include graduate school and that Alyssa’s chosen degree program includes a graduate degree, for which the parties should not be responsible to pay the…”
Quinn v. Threlkel, 858 N.E.2d 665 (Ind. Ct. App. 2006).
In Re the Marriage of Blanford, 937 N.E.2d 356 (Ind. Ct. App. 2010).
Hirsch v. Oliver, 944 N.E.2d 956 (Ind. Ct. App. 2011).
Ind. Code § 31-16-6-2(a)(1)(A): 2 cases
Sebastian v. Sebastian, 798 N.E.2d 224 (Ind. Ct. App. 2003). “Zachary's College Expenses Child support payments may properly include expenses for the child's education under Indiana Code section 31-16-6-2: The child support order or an educational support order may also include, where appropriate: (1) amounts for the child's education in…”
David Cunningham v. Penney (Cunningham) Barton, 139 N.E.3d 1081 (Ind. Ct. App. 2019).
Ind. Code § 31-16-6-2(a)(1)(B): 6 cases
Hinesley-Petry v. Petry, 894 N.E.2d 277 (Ind. Ct. App. 2008). “Indiana Code Section 31-16-6-2 provides in pertinent part, (a) The child support order or an educational support order may also include, where appropriate: (1) amounts for the child's education.”
R.R.F. v. L.L.F., 956 N.E.2d 1135 (Ind. Ct. App. 2011).
R.R.F. v. L.L.F., 935 N.E.2d 243 (Ind. Ct. App. 2010).
Rrf v. Llf, 935 N.E.2d 243 (Ind. Ct. App. 2010).
Rrf v. Llf, 956 N.E.2d 1135 (Ind. Ct. App. 2011).
Ind. Code § 31-16-6-2(a)(1)(C): 2 cases
Hinesley-Petry v. Petry, 894 N.E.2d 277 (Ind. Ct. App. 2008). “Indiana Code Section 31-16-6-2 provides in pertinent part, (a) The child support order or an educational support order may also include, where appropriate: (1) amounts for the child's education.”
J.H. v. J.K., No. 71A03-1311-JP-459 (Ind. Ct. App. May 15, 2014).
Ind. Code § 31-16-6-2(a)(2): 4 cases
Cubel v. Cubel, 876 N.E.2d 1117 (Ind. 2007).
Jeffery Thomas Maxwell v. Shirley Sue Maxwell (mem. dec.), No. 30A01-1712-DR-2768 (Ind. Ct. App. Aug. 10, 2018).
Donyel Perry v. Tracy Perry, No. 49A02-1304-DR-385 (Ind. Ct. App. Dec. 26, 2013).
In Re The Marriage of: Norman S. Carlson v. Jean E. Carlson (mem. dec.), No. 82A01-1410-DR-448 (Ind. Ct. App. June 3, 2015).
Ind. Code § 31-16-6-2(a)(l): 1 case
Stanley Kahn v. Beverly (Kahn) Baker, 36 N.E.3d 1103 (Ind. Ct. App. 2015).
Ind. Code § 31-16-6-2(a)(l)(C): 1 case
Hinesley-Petry v. Petry, 894 N.E.2d 277 (Ind. Ct. App. 2008). “Indiana Code Section 31-16-6-2 provides in pertinent part, (a) The child support order or an educational support order may also include, where appropriate: (1) amounts for the child's education.”
Ind. Code § 31-16-6-2(b): 12 cases
Carter v. Dayhuff, 829 N.E.2d 560 (Ind. Ct. App. 2005). “Ind.Code § 31-16-6-2. Our supreme court has stated that the provisions of Indiana Code Section 31-16-6-2 are "amplified" by the Indiana Child Support Guidelines, and that the "guidelines are to be utilized in the resolution of all petitions to determine or modify support.”
Thacker v. Thacker, 710 N.E.2d 942 (Ind. Ct. App. 1999). “Ind.Code § 31-16-6-2 states, in pertinent part: (a) The child support order or an educational support order may also include, where appropriate: (1) amounts for the child's education .”
Orlich v. Orlich, 859 N.E.2d 671 (Ind. Ct. App. 2006).
In re the Paternity of Makayla Lauren Pickett, Gregg Roberts v. Shonda Pickett, 44 N.E.3d 756 (Ind. Ct. App. 2015). “[19] Indiana Code Section 31-16-6-2(a) provides that a child support order or an educational support order may include (1) amounts for the child’s education in elementary and secondary schools and at postsecondary educational institutions, taking into account: (A) the child’s…”
Schacht v. Schacht, 892 N.E.2d 1271 (Ind. Ct. App. 2008).
Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the
Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and
treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.