A New Study Emphasizes the Important Role Fathers have on the Educational Outcomes of Their Children

fathers study educational outcomes

Fathers Involvement With Their Children Has A Positive Effect on Educational Outcomes Says Recent UK Study

fathers study educational outcomesIt goes without saying that parental involvement is crucial for a child’s development as well as their educational growth. A recent study conducted by the University of Leeds in the UK, finds that fathers have “a unique and important effect” on their children’s educational outcomes. The study collected data in a survey of about 5,000 families in the United Kingdom that included both a mother and father. The study was linked to the participants in the study from their early year profile at age 5 and then to the national pupil database at age 7. Click here to read the study.

The study found that when fathers engage in structured interactions such as singing, reading, playing, and drawing with their children before they attend school, it gives an educational advantage to them in their first year of elementary school. The report found that this trend continues as they progress through school. If there is greater involvement at the age of 5 it increases the child’s academic progress at the age of 7. The study found that father’s involvement had a positive effect on … Read More... “A New Study Emphasizes the Important Role Fathers have on the Educational Outcomes of Their Children”

Ohio’s 529 Educational Savings Plan – A Primer and Latest Updates

529 plan

The 529 plan Is An Excellent Estate Planning And College Planning Tool

529 planA 529 plan allows a parent, grandparent, other family member, friend or any other person to establishment a savings account for the benefit of any other person of any age who plans to attend elementary, secondary school and/or college regardless of the donor’s income.  The federal gift tax exclusion allows an individual to gift up to $15,000 per year ($30,000 per year for a married couple) with no gift tax consequences.  A donor can also give up to 5 years of gifts in one year. However, if the donor dies during the 5 year period, the amount allocated to years after the decedent’s death will be included in the donor’s gross estate.  The earnings in the account accumulate tax free and the withdrawals are federal income tax free as long as they are used at an eligible educational institute for qualified educational expenses.

These expenses include tuition, books, required school supplies, room and board and computers and related expenses such as internet and educational software.  The account can be used for thousands of educational institutions across the country-anywhere federal financial aid is accepted.  The account is similar to … Read More... “Ohio’s 529 Educational Savings Plan – A Primer and Latest Updates”

A Child’s College Education – Often a Hidden Cost in Divorce!

college_djv.jpgA divorce often leads to many changes within a family. Recognizing this fact is extremely important, especially when children are involved. Divorcing parents should ask themselves each step of the way what they can do to minimize the negative impact on their children. Parental funding of a child’s college education often becomes a casualty in the process.

A recent study published in the Journal of Family Issues which was led by Ruth N. Lopez Turley, an associate professor of sociology at Rice University, confirms a major disadvantage for children from divorced families: Kids whose birth parents divorce get less financial help with college costs, even if their parents remarry, the study finds.

Parents who stay married to each other meet 77% of the tuition costs and contribute about 8% of their income to their child’s college expenses, according to the study of 2400 undergraduate students. Not surprisingly, especially to most divorce lawyers, parents’ contributions to college costs fall after a divorce. Divorced parents meet only 42% of their children’s financial needs and contribute only about 6% of their income.

But divorced parents who later remarry continue to lower funding levels meeting just 53% of their children’s needs and … Read More... “A Child’s College Education – Often a Hidden Cost in Divorce!”

Marriage Works! Ohio – Perhaps It’s Just What You Need!

marworks2.jpg“Wait a minute!  Did I read that right?  Marriage ‘building’ advice and links to what sounds like a marriage ‘strengthening’ organization on a Divorce Attorney’s website…what’s up with that?”  Those thoughts and questions may have run through your mind as you have explored our law firm’s blog and website, but you read correctly.  The desire to help strengthen marriages and prevent divorce, if at all possible, may be unusual in our industry, but saving marriages and strengthening families is good for society!  To that end, our website, as well as our Ohio Family Law Blog, provides people with links to pro-family organizations like Marriage Works! Ohio, an organization whose mission is helping couples strengthen their relationships.

We have teamed up with Marriage Works! Ohio since 2009 when they agreed to write monthly “Relationship Builder Tips” for our Ohio Family Law Blog. Those tips have been very well received and are an integral part of the blog. If you want to read an archive of those tips, click here. I was interested in learning more about the organization and the author of those tips. I recently had the pleasure of personally meeting Sydney Battle, the Support Services Supervisor … Read More... “Marriage Works! Ohio – Perhaps It’s Just What You Need!”