Divorced parents and FAFSA

<p>Sorry if this situation is somewhere else in this thread... I can't seem to find it.</p>

<p>My parents have never been married to each other (I was born out of wedlock) and my dad is now remarried. He wi be paying for my college, but my stepmom's money will probably also go to my college. My mother's income is much lower, and she will not be paying anything. They have joint custody of me (50/50) and use me on their taxes every other year.</p>

<p>Here is the first problem: I am not on my father's most recent taxes. This year was my mom's year. Is my father the parent who needs to fill out FAFSA (and CSS profile)?</p>

<p>If he hasn't filed his taxes yet, what does he do?</p>

<p>Also, if stepmom may be paying for some college (dad might avoid using any of her money), does she need to fill out the FAFSA?</p>

<p>My counselor told my parents that the taxes decide it, but that seems like fraud to me since if my mother did FAFSA, we'd probably get financial aid and not need it. maybe it's like having grandparents who want to pay for a grandchild's college... that probably wouldn't be on FAFSA.</p>

<p>Thank you for any help. My parents are freaking out because the deadline is March 1st!</p>

<p>It is not who claimed you on their taxes. It is who you lived with the most that is the parent you must report on FAFSA. If you did not live with one more than the other then it is the one who provided the most financial support. If neither provided more financial support it is the one with the higher income.</p>

<p>I am assuming you actually lived with one parent more than the other, put that parent’s info.</p>