Confused about FAFSA

Paying for College
1

<p>I understand how FAFSA works for the most part, but I'm really confused as to how it will work in my situation. My parents have been divorced for the last 6 years. They share joint custody, and my father is court-ordered to pay child support. However, he has only paid child support **once<a href="just%20so%20he%20could%20have%20a%20stub%20to%20prove%20to%20the%20court%20that%20he's%20paid">/b</a>. So while filling out FAFSA, it appears that his salary is contributing to me, but it isn't, and he isn't planning on paying for my college either.</p>

<p>My mom has finally decided to sue him for the unpaid child support for the past 6 years (about $52,000), however we know that we probably won't get this much money, if any. But I feel kind of screwed up either way.</p>

<p>a) If we somehow get that money, won't it look like we have a bunch of money in the bank, therefore making my EFC higher?
b) If we don't get the money, and things go back to how they were, when filling out FAFSA it appears like my dad's contributing, but he really isn't. Is there someway to let them know that I haven't gotten a penny from him, and his salary in no way contributes to me?</p>

2

<p>My understanding about the FAFSA for joint custody parents is that the one with the HIGHER income is required to file it. However that is if you are living with each parent an equal amount of time. Could you just live with your mom all the time…or most of it? If that is the case, your mom’s income would be all that would go on the FAFSA. </p>

<p>If you are living with your mom more than half of the time, she alone would be the custodial parent…and only HER income and assets would go on the FAFSA. </p>

<p>Did you think you needed to put BOTH parent’s incomes on the FAFSA? That would never be the case for divorced parents.</p>

3

<p>Your mom will only claim the actual amount of child support she received during the previous year when she files FAFSA. As you said, it’s unlikely your dad is going to write a check for the full amount in arrears so I would postpone worrying about that until it happens.</p>

4

<p>Thank you both, that’s a giant stress off my shoulders! :)</p>