<p>I know this issue has been discussed ad naseum over the years, but I have to say that I think it is a really sad system that would require this wife to pay for her step-child’s education, but FAFSA schools absolve non custodial BIOLOGICAL parents of the same responsibility. </p>
<p>My sister and her ex are both equally involved in parenting my niece. When they divorced, the ex purchased a home in the same development so that niece could conveniently go between her homes. The divorce was 14 years ago; neither parent has remarried. My sister is the custodial parent but niece spends a LOT of time with her dad every week. At the time of divorce, child support was set at $300, and although the ex’s income has increased SUBSTANTIALLY, my sister has never attempted to have the support increased. Their relationship is more or less amicable and ex pays for clothes, car insurance and other incidentals as needed. Together their income is more than mine and DH’s but since the ex’s income is not a factor at FAFSA schools, my nieces EFC is roughly 1/3 of my son’s. </p>
<p>No provisions were made in the divorce settlement/court orders for tuition from either parent. </p>
<p>Here, the new step-mother has to buck up. Neices financially secure, very involved FATHER does not. </p>
<p>What a scam. I can’t believe the federal government STILL has not closed this glaringly unjust loophole.</p>