Universities Weblog

In what could possibly be a revolutionary decision, university student Amy Armstrong won a lawsuit against her father which will require him to pay her tuition fees for the next three years.

The case brings up questions: does a parent's responsibility for financing their children's endeavors end at age 18? Or should parents always be willing to help? Will this lead to a glut of lawsuits in the near future?

The Education Guardian has the full story:

Amy Armstrong launched the legal challenge as soon as she turned 18 and received the right to sue in her own name, to end the "unfair burden" on her mother, who has cared for her for 16 years.

A judge at York county court issued the payment order to Paul Armstrong, 46, a window cleaner, who has had little contact with Amy since he and her mother, amanda Barrett, divorced in 1989. The action could lead to similar cases across the country by students relying on a single parent for help with fees.

Ms Armstrong, who is in the first year of a creative media degree at Hull University, took the case to a solicitor after her mother failed to get anywhere through the "absolute shambles" of the Child Support Agency. She said after the hearing in York: "I think it's right that my father should contribute towards my education and I'm glad I stood up for my rights."

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