<p>Hey, I'm a 21 year old who wants to go to college for Computer Science. I've lived on my own for 2 years now and my parents have been in the process of divorce and have been seperated for nearly 12 months. It will be finalized in just a few days. </p>
<p>My mom never had to work and she has been able to start college just now free of charge due to her situation. Not only that, she receives 2,000 per quarter to continue her education. </p>
<p>My step-dad won't be able to contribute to my education, nor my brothers and sister's since he has to take care of two households now.</p>
<p>I'm just wondering how this will affect FAFSA and which parent should fill it out. When I researched, I only found things related to high school students still living with one or the other parent. My situation is different and I'm not sure how to handle this.</p>
<p>You are not considered independent for FAFSA purposes regardless of living on your own, as you have probably found out. The rules regarding which parent to use state that you pick the parent with whom you have lived the most during this year. If the answer is neither, you are supposed to pick the parent with the most financial resources. My advice to you is to figure out which parent will generage the most aid for you and spend a few night with that one. And yes, regardless of whether the step parents will or can pay, their financial are included, so when you consider each parent, you have to consider the stepparents. If your mother can hold off on the marriage till the first of the year, for this year both she and you will likely get more money for the next school year. Once she is married, her spouse’s financials will be included in both her and your FAFSAs whether he thinks he can afford to pay, wants to pay, refuses to pay, gets a pre nup saying he will not pay. Doesn’t matter. If he’s married to your mom, it’s not up to HIM but to the FAFSA as to whether his income/assets are such that he is expected to pay, and they won’t care what his other obligations are outide of the parameters of the FAFSA.</p>