Hey!
So, I recently applied ED to Brandeis University and EA to other schools, I just found out I have to fill out a CSS Profile for them. I filled it out and stated that my mother were widowed but the CSS Profile is still asking for my Non-Custodial parent information. What am I supposed to do?
I am confused. You have 2 bio parents alive? They are not married to each other now? If that is the case, the one you live with the least number of days has to fill out the non-custodial form. Or is one bio parent deceased?
So my bio parents were never married, and eventually just separated. But then my bio dad passed away, and so my college counselor told me to put my mother was widowed. But my CSS Profile is still asking for all my bio dads information. @intparent
It might have been easier and more accurate if you had listed your mom as “single”.
So I Googled and found a approach here (what Johns Hopkins recommends).
http://finaid.johnshopkins.edu/elecserv/PROFILEOnlineTipsforSeparatedandDivorcedParents.pdf
It has what to do if parents divorced and then one parent died. I think it makes sense for your situation, too. I would do this, and then notify the FA sept at your schools that you did it this way.
Your GC was wrong!!
You should have put down your mother’s status; if she is not married to anyone, she would be single.
If she were legally married (or living in a state where she had a recognized common law marriage) to anyone and her spouse is deceased, then she would be widowed (and the school would want proof of the death).
If she is married to anyone (even if it is not your biological parent), then she puts down married and puts her income and her current spouse on the profile.
If she is married to anyone (even if it is not your biological parent) and there is a dissolution of the marriage, then she puts down separated/divorced and only puts her income on the profile.
In the explanation section your mom could have written that your biological non-custodial parent is deceased.
In this case, you need to have your profile corrected.
You also need to obtain a death certificate for your bio dad to prove that he is deceased. Do you have a relationship with any immediate family members on your father’s side? As his child, you should be able to get a copy of his death certificate (look up the requirements for obtaining one in the state where you live). If you are under 18, you may have to go with your mom, who will need to provide your birth certificate, court orders, or any other proof that the deceased person in question was your father.
@sybbie719 Yes I have the death certificate but I am not sure where to send it to. Even if my parents were married, and then my father passed away, why are they asking for his information?
@intparent It said I had to put that my parents were never married, should I call each school now and explain to them? I think I did my whole registration wrong then.
This is so confusing. On the website I saw, it said that the non-custodian parent is the one that helps with less than 50% of financial support, my father passed away since 2012, the only money we have been receiving is his social security. Would that even make him a non-custodian parent at all?
Just call College Board (CSS Profile) They should be able to help you correct it.
Because you still have to show proof that your non-custodial parent is not in a position to pay.
If he were alive there would be 2 options:
Either he would fill out the information
or
if there were some extremely extenuating circumstances, then you would request a non-custodial waiver.
At the end of the day, you are asking them for their money.
They have the right to ask you anything that want or need to determine whether you are qualified to get it.
If this is the hill you want to die on, so be it.
Pick your poison, but know that you will not receive any aid from them except any federal or state aid (if you live in MA), that you are entitled to.
Call the financial aid department. Some schools will want original death certificates, others will accept copies. You may need to send a copy of your SS award letter (for survivor benefits)
Ask them what they need and and if you must send it, send it priority mail with a signed receipt.
I would call the college board and have this corrected. Not sure how someone who was never married can be considered “widowed”…unless this is a common law marriage state and your parents fulfilled that requirement.
Your mom’s current marital status is single…on my opinion (unless she has remarried).
I have known students who had no NCP (adopted by a single parent). They had to apply for a NCP waiver, and that was immediately granted once they showed the birth certificate with no second parent listed. I’m sure if you do the same thing with the death certificate (ask for the waiver, submit the death certificate) that will satisfy the schools.
I understand some schools have changed this more recently and accept it when the student explains the situation, but I’m sure there are still some holdouts requiring the filing of the waiver.
Wow…this is the 2nd post from someone whose GC said to list a never-married mom as “widowed” after the bio dad dies. Strange.
You need to change the FA paperwork and list your mom as single.
Sorry to hear that you’ve lost your dad
You need to call the schools and ask if simply submitting your dad’s death cert is enough or if they need the waiver as well.