<p>This is the NY Times article that has the best read on this particular situation:</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/30/education/edlife/spending.html[/url]”>http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/30/education/edlife/spending.html</a></p>
<p>The College Board has also weighed in. They recommend that only biological parents be responsible and have a formula that absolves stepparents of responsibility. Among other things, their policy says:</p>
<ol>
<li>The standard family contribution calculation for applicants with separated or divorced parents involves two parents, not three or four. </li>
<li>A contribution from a parent who has remarried is proportional to the financial strength of that parent as compared to the combined resources of the parent and stepparent. This principle applies to the parent in either the custodial or noncustodial household.</li>
</ol>
<p><a href=“Financial Aid Services”>Financial Aid Services;
<p>It would be really helpful to know which colleges have adopted this methodology. I suppose it is time to start making phone calls to the financial aid offices of the colleges my daughter is interested in.</p>
<p>Mom4college: You make a very good point. I posted here because this discussion has already been stressful and we’re still more than a year away. The marriage certificate is less important than the relationship.</p>