<p>My girlfriend and I would like to marry. We are both divorced. I have a good job and a good income. She didn't fair so well in her divorce and doesn't have a good job or any assets.</p>
<p>She has one child in college and one going to college next year. Her child in college used her income for his FASFA as he lived with her. His father, who is very wealthy, does not participate. </p>
<p>I am wondering if or how, when we marry, my income comes to play in both of their financial aid? Does/would my income suddenly count against what they have to pay or are eligible to receive?</p>
<p>For FAFSA a step parent is treated the same as a biological parent. Your combined income and assets would have to be reported on FAFSA. There are no exceptions allowed by FAFSA.</p>
<p>Now, things have changed a lot since I was in college concerning financial aid. FASFA determines what the parent contribution should be, correct? I am wondering, as both of these children are over 18 and will be in college, why their biological father and step mother, who are both very wealthy, wouldn’t count against the children?</p>
<p>Their biological mother, my fiance’, is poor and, from what I have gathered, is the reason they get all the financial aid they do. I don’t want to mess that up for them, or, for that matter, suddenly becoming financially responsible for these children when their biological father doesn’t do anything for them.</p>
<p>This kinda doesn’t make sense and isn’t fair. But I get it and understand.</p>
It would seem logical that they would. But for FAFSA, which is used to determine eligibility for Federal aid and is also used by most schools to determine institutional aid (if any is available), only the parent (and spouse) the student lived with the most is required.</p>
<p>Some schools, often those with very generous financial aid out of their own funds, do additionally require the financial information of the noncustodial parent and spouse. They will require much more detailed financial information vis CSS profile or their own forms. Only about 300 schools require CSS.</p>
<p>Then don’t get married, wait until her children have graduated from college.
Very simple answer and many couples do that! Your income & your assets will count as their step parent and will increase the EFC for both of her children. Even a prenuptial agreement will not be recognized!</p>