<p>My parents are divorced and I pretty much have no personal contact with my dad, but he sends child support. how will this effect my fin aid?</p>
<p>It will include him if the university asks for non-custodial parent tax information, etc.</p>
<p>It depends on whether your school is a FAFSA only school or a school that requires css/profile.</p>
<p>FAFSA requires only the financial information of the custodial parent (and spouse if she has remarried) - child support does have to be shown on FAFSA even if it is not taxable.</p>
<p>css/profile requires the financial information of both parents (and their spouses if they are remarried).</p>
<p>What happens when an ex simply refuses to participate in the process? The state doesn't require support through college, only until age 18. </p>
<p>My ex, basically a good guy, doesn't do paperwork. I'm sure he hasn't filed taxes since we divorced! He doesn't think about money and talking about college finances to a post would be more fruitful than talking to him about them. I can't imagine him filling out any financial aid forms.</p>
<p>^ There are lot of really great FAFSA-only schools you can still apply to. The University of Miami is one.</p>
<p>Or be full-pay at Profile schools. The system is based on paperwork, so opting out of required paperwork means opting out of financial aid.</p>
<p>There are a lot of schools that do not require non-custodial profile. Also, I have the same problem with my ex and I have had no problem writing a letter and getting the non-custodial profile waived at the schools that require it. </p>
<p>People who say only apply to non-profile schools, with all due respect, don't know what they are talking about.</p>
<p>Interesting. Which schools waive the form just because the noncustodial does not like paperwork?</p>
<p>It's more than just not liking paperwork. My ex has not paid child support in over 5 years. He owes me $134,000 in back support and will not be paying for college. I sent a letter explaining that and had no problems with the waiver.</p>
<p>What about the poster in #4? She says the noncustodial is a good guy but simply refuses to do paperwork. Is that enough to waive the noncustodial form?</p>
<p>She needs to contact the individual school. Not to mention on the college board site there is a list and it tells whether they require non-custodial parent form or not. More and more schools are not requiring. I would say at least 5 out of the 10 my son applied to did not require it and off the top of my head the ones that didn't were Susquehanna, Gettysburg, Ursinus, Hartwick . I know those aren't the elite schools that most people think of on this site, but the poster can check the list if she is concerned about it. No sense just applying full pay if he won't fill the forms. A few of the schools sent my son a form to fill out to ask whether he thought his dad would fill out the forms. St. Lawrence was one of those. His dad is a deadbeat. I would think most responsible non-custodial parents fill out the form without problems. Someone who doesn't pay taxes. Not sure how those people operate.</p>
<p>A financial aid counselor at one of the LAC my Ds applied to said they have seen EVERYTHING when it comes to divorced parents. Many midwestern LAC do not require Profile, rather FAFSA and a supplement for custodial as well as non custodial parents. Interesting that some are requiring the non custodial less, though makes some sense as they seem to base aid on the FAFSA number alone. Don't hesitate to discuss your individual situation with colleges to see how they might be able to work with you. </p>
<p>Child support goes on the parental income part of the FAFSA, and is good to have this number in hand for the year when sitting down to fill out the form.</p>
<p>The OP indicated that her dad DID pay child support. I know that ends at age 18, but it certainly indicates "financial contact" currently with the student. This isn't the same as a deadbeat parent who has had NO CONTACT with their child for years. But...nothing ventured, nothing gained. The OP can contact the finaid offices at the college and ask what is required by each school for a waiver of the non-custodial parent info. Each school will tell the OP their criteria.</p>