Although all state laws differ, under many of them, the obligation for child support ends at 18. The law sees a child as an adult at that age, but most California parents will tell you that the obligation or the desire certainly does not stop there. When it comes to a child's education, many parents want to support them physically, mentally, emotionally and financially the entire way through.

With the economy as it is and the exponentially increasing cost of college tuition, more and more parents are finding themselves between a rock and hard place. They want their children to go to college, but coming up with the funds is becoming more difficult. Many divorced parents find themselves wondering if they can force their ex to pay.

Although some states do provide an avenue for covering the cost of tuition, one of the best ways to plan for the future is to include college education terms in a custody agreement.

When it comes to setting out the specifics for handling college education, the sky is the limit. A custody agreement can include a plan for how the parents will handle the costs of college. They can divide the cost by using a percentage system, set out exact amounts each parent will pay or divide it up in terms of type of costs. Parents can arrange for everything from transportation costs to off-campus expenses.

The custody terms can go beyond the dollar amount. Restrictions or requirements can be set on the type of college, the distance away from home, whether there can be or should be religious requirements and so much more.

If you are contemplating divorce and are concerned about the future of your child's education, discuss your concerns with an experienced divorce attorney. Even if your child is a toddler, setting out enforceable terms now is easier than later.

Source: Forbes, "Who Pays for College Tuition? Top Factors for Divorcing Women to Consider," Jeff Landers, Jan. 24, 2012