<p>My father ended contact with me over 5 years ago and I haven't seen him since, but he is still listed as having legal joint custody (my mother has full). Would they attempt to contact him for financial information? He pays a negligible amount of child support. Thanks for any response, I don't want to stress about losing financial aid! </p>
<p>No college will attempt to contact your father, but some schools will expect him to provide financial information in consideration of financial aid, and possibly financial support depending on his circumstances.</p>
<p>Varies based on the college.</p>
<p>There are two forms that you might worry about: FAFSA and CSS Profile.</p>
<p>For the FAFSA, here are the [rules](<a href=“https://fafsa.ed.gov/help/ffdef07.htm]rules[/url]:”>https://fafsa.ed.gov/help/ffdef07.htm):</a></p>
<p>Assuming your parents are divorced or separated:</p>
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<p>If your college uses the CSS Profile for [url=<a href=“https://ncprofile.collegeboard.com/ncpWeb/pageflows/Main/NcpMainController.jpf]Non”>https://ncprofile.collegeboard.com/ncpWeb/pageflows/Main/NcpMainController.jpf]Non</a> Custodial Parents<a href=“many%20of%20them%20do%20not”>/url</a>, you may have more complications. You might have to get a waiver for that, but I’m not sure if you would qualify for a waiver since you do have contact with your parent in the form of legal joint custody as well as child support payments (even if they are “negligible”).</p>
<p>How can your mother have full custody, but your parents have joint custody? That makes no sense.</p>
<p>For FAFSA purposes, your mom will be the only parent listed…and only her income and assets will be reported. If she receives any child or spousal support, that has to be included.</p>
<p>If you apply to any colleges that require financial information from the non-custodial parent (your dad) then you will likely need to provide this info. Schools that use the profile…some require the non-custodial parent Profile. Some schools have their own form.</p>
<p>You know where your dad is…he hasn’t disappeared. He just doesn’t see you. Unfortunately, and sadly, that happens in some divorce situations. </p>
<p>You can request a NCP waiver, but there is no guarantee you will get it. You will need to provide significant documentation about your lack of ability to contact and get this info from your dad.</p>
<p>@thumper1 Thanks for the info, do you think if I filed for legal abandonment that would clear the NCP problem up? </p>
<p>Why would you be able to file for legal abandonment? Your dad pays minimal child support. </p>
<p>Like I said, sadly in divorce situations, sometimes the NCP becomes an absentee parent. </p>
<p>Your mom knows where your dad is. She can ask him to fill out the NCP forms of required.</p>
<p>OR your can request a NCP waiver from each college,to,which you apply. This will require significant documentation of your dad’s absence. You might get the waiver and you might OT.,and you might get it at one school but not the other.</p>
<p>OR you can apply to schools that are either FAFSA only…or do NOT require the NCP Profile or information. There are plenty of schools that will meet that criteria. </p>
<p>No, you cant can’t claim legal abandoment. You still have 2 parents that are supporting you. Colleges don’t care if your family is dysfunctional…they just want the total amount of income from your parents.</p>
<p>@ Thumper, I can’t see schools granting a NCP waiver after 5 years. My daughter never had a father for all 18 years and I still needed to jump through hoops for that.</p>
<p>GA…I agree that a waiver is unlikely…but the student can certainly try. They just have to be prepared in case the answer is NO.</p>
<p>There are plenty of colleges that do not require NCP information.</p>
<p>Be sure your application list is well stocked with:</p>
<p>a. Schools where you can get large enough merit scholarships to make them affordable.
b. Schools which provide sufficient financial aid to make them affordable without needing non-custodial parent information (i.e. those which use FAFSA only (although most of these do not give that good financial aid), and those which explicitly state that they do not use non-custodial parent information like the University of Chicago).</p>
<p>Actually, the most colleges who request the non custodial information are willing to speak with your non custodial parent to explain to them that them filing out the form does not obligate them to pay. They will also explain the the NCP that without their information the application is incomplete and they will receive no institutional aid</p>
<p>For example Brown states;</p>
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<p>Brown granted my kid an NCP waiver, based on the last circumstance I suppose, and there was child support involved. I’m glad I didn’t ask here first.</p>
<p>thumper1 is right, all you can do is file and ask, you can’t count on it but it is possible. You need credible statement from outside party.</p>
<p>Meanwhile apply to schools that don’t use NCP info. I wonder if the payment is small that means low income? Why would you lose aid? Are you saying you are already getting aid?</p>