<p>Alright, I'm having a few problems with this situation. For the 06-07 year, I used my mother's income to fill out the FAFSA, since she and my father divorced over 10 years ago and she's been a single parent since then. Even though I was able to get her information, I'll be the one responsible for paying my EFC and whatever else is left.</p>
<p>Now, my mother is telling me that she no longer wants to supply her info for the next FAFSA, since it did little for me last time. I'm trying to explain to her that her not filling it out will cause me even more trouble, since then I'll be stuck with no aid at all. I'm not sure where my father is right now (last I heard he'd moved, I haven't spoken to him in a while), but she wants me to call him and ask to use his info. I believe my father makes more than my mother does, I'm not sure. Even so, could I use him instead of my mother or no? I highly doubt that he'll give me his info, but I feel the need to check. I'm concerned since, even if he did, I think it would be against the rules since he's not the custodial parent nor have I lived with him since he left.</p>
<p>For the FAFSA, you are supposed to provide the info for your custodial parent...the parent you live with. You can't just "decide" to use your other parent's income if you don't reside with them at all. Perhaps someone else has seen a different interpretation than mine...but if not, I believe you are obligated to provide your mother's financial information on the FAFSA because SHE is your custodial parent, not your father.</p>
<p>You've got it right -- you can't change - it has to be the custodial parent -- and if you can't get information from your parent, then you won't qualify for any aid at all.</p>
<p>Majesa, Perhaps you should sit down with your mom and explain this. You need to have info from the FAFSA website re: parent information. It's pretty clear..MUST be the custodial parent. Perhaps your mom doesn't realize this is not a choice.</p>
<p>I don't know what happens if you "change parents" after 1 year of college. I do know that if the parents have joint custody, you use the parent who provides more than half of the childs support. My daughters split their time between parents, spending 3 nights a week and every other weekend at their father's home. So, when I called to ask the college which parent to use, they said to use the parent that provides more than half of the support. </p>
<p>What is even more interesting is that both parents can apply for Parent Plus loans, splitting the cost of whatever is not covered by scholarships, loans, etc. if they are agreeable to do that. Each parent applies for the loan on their own, so their application and financial information is not shared with the "ex". </p>
<p>I don't think this information will help the OP, but I wanted to clarify it for other divorced parents. When in doubt, call the schools financial aid office.</p>
<p>I know all about printing out stuff and showing it my mama. That's part of the reason I posted this, too. Believe me when I say it's pretty much a waste of paper. I'm the one that filled out the FAFSA and all the associated stuff, so I doubt she read anything about that anyway. Until this day she swears I can file independent and do this on my own, despite what the FAFSA website says. Why? Because she did it in college. </p>
<p>I still love her, though. By the way, to her, going through all of this trouble to go to college is a choice I choose to make.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, in the situation you've described, changing parents would be a violation of Federal law. </p>
<p>Could you have your mother talk to a financial aid officer at your school? She may believe him/her that she needs to submit her information for you to have any chance of getting aid.</p>
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<p>she swears I can file independent and do this on my own, despite what the FAFSA website says. Why? Because she did it in college. >></p>
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<p>Yes, and I filed as an independent as well. BUT the rules have significantly changed since I went to college, and this is not a "choice" that you can just make anymore. There are very specific rules you must follow. I agree that perhaps someone else may be able to explain this to your mom. It doesn't sound like you're asking her for money...you're asking her for HELP so that you may GET some money to help you attend school. Emphasize this...and good luck to you.</p>
<p>We changed parents on D forms last year. It's not a problem if you have the information. Since custody ends at age 18 in most cases, it really depends on who provides support and how much. If the support changes, change the parents.</p>
<p>Bandit is correct. But in the case of the OP this is what she/he wrote: "I'm not sure where my father is right now (last I heard he'd moved, I haven't spoken to him in a while), but she wants me to call him and ask to use his info." This does not sound like a situation where the father paid more than 1/2 of her support recently.</p>