<p>My parents are on the verge of divorce.</p>
<p>If they divorce before the FAFSA is due, then could I put my mom as the parent (she makes way less than my Dad)? And then I could get way more aid?</p>
<p>No. They are married in the year that is relevant. And he is responsible to chip in financially whether they are married or not, is my understanding. </p>
<p>It doesn’t help you. And I’m sorry. Parents hurt kids at any age when they divorce (but I digress).</p>
<p>Good luck. </p>
<p>
Only if your mom is your custodial parent.</p>
<p>You are required to report the income/assets of the parent that you lived with for the majority of the time. Unless their divorce is finalized or they have legal separation papers signed, they will be considered married for 2014. Since you lived with both and they were married this tax year (the one that will be reported on the FAFSA) you will have to report both incomes, I think. Then for sophomore year you report the parent that you lived with the most in 2015.</p>
<p>As for tranquilmind’s post: CSS Profile schools look at both parents and expect the noncustodial parent to give support. FAFSA schools only look at the custodial parent.</p>
<p>I’m hoping someone else has the definitive answer…I’m not positive. But I thought marital status was as of the date of filing the FAFSA. </p>
<p>From the FAFSA worksheet:</p>
<p>Who is considered a parent? “Parent” refers to a biological or adoptive parent. Grandparents, foster parents, legal guardians, older siblings, and uncles or aunts are not considered parents on this form unless they have legally adopted you. If your legal parents are living and married to each other, answer the questions about both of them. If your legal parents are not married and live together, answer the questions about both of them. In case of divorce or separation, give information about the parent you lived with most in the last 12 months. If you did not live with one parent more than the other, give information about the parent who provided you the most financial support during the last 12 months or during the most recent year you received support. If your divorced or widowed parent has remarried, also provide information about your stepparent.</p>
<p>It sounds like the parent marital/living situation is as of the day that the FAFSA is completed; i.e., no look-back period.</p>
<p>I agree with MiddKid. So…if it is as of the date of filing…and this student really has lived with both parents equally, then the parent who provided the most support is the custodial parent…and that persons income and assets are used on the FAFSA.</p>
<p>However…if the divorce is final and the kiddo resided more with mom…she is the custodial parent and her info only is in the FAFSA. If the dad, his only.</p>
<p>I don’t think the divorce has to be final, but if the parents still live together on the date FAFSA is filed, then both will have to be considered.</p>
<p>It is unlikely they will be divorced by 12/31, so most likely will file a joint tax return. You would have to separate out one parent’s income and assets if they do separate before FAFSA is filed, which might be difficult.</p>
<p>The parents can use their w-2 forms to separate out their income. Assets are reported the date of filing…so whatever is in the custodial parent name that day would be used.</p>
<p>Even if the FAFSA is filed with married status, should that change, the student can follow the college/university’s process to ask for a special circumstance consideration. </p>
<p>“verge of divorce” can mean many things. If neither has visited a lawyer yet, and there are enough assets and children involved, they might not have their divorce finalized for a while. If they are visiting a judge next week to have the divorce finalized, that is different.</p>
<p>I didn’t think separation affected tax filing status though. And I’m not sure how it would matter if they were divorced, if he is your biological father, aren’t his assets considered too?</p>
<p>Rhandco…read post number 5. If the parents are separated, it’s just like they are divorced for FAFSA purposes. Only the custodial parent is listed. So if these parents are separated, not loving together, and divorce is not final…only ONE parent would be the custodial parent…the one with whom the kiddo resided with the most in the year prior to the FAFSA filing. The other parent isn’t listed on there at all.</p>
<p>With regard to assets if the divorce isn’t final…these would have to be divided, one would think, for FAFSA purposes. If I were guessing, I would say half of the assets held jointly would belong to each parent.</p>
<p>It turns out the OP is a prankster and has been banned, and I am closing the thread but leaving it up as it could have been a real question.</p>