So my significant other and I are getting legally married so he has enough money to pay for school and move out. I know it’s only illegal to marry for citizenship, but could this possibly blow up on my face? besides the whole divorce, were chill and we talked about all of that. I just don’t want to go to jail and I want him to have enough money to be on his own(his dad now refuses to pay for his tuition)
Have you run the financial aid calculators, and have you discussed the effects of reporting your income on your potential spouse’s FAFSA? Before you move up your wedding date (I presume you had one potentially in the future because you use the expression “significant other”), make certain that any potentially negative consequences to your joint finances that could come from being married are indeed offset by the benefit your potential spouse expects in financial aid.
The basic question to ask yourself is this one: Would I marry this person if there were no difference in his/her financial aid package as a married person?
As of now he doesn’t get any aid, his dad’s a doctor so he doesn’t qualify. Now that his dad refuses to pay all his income would just be going to paying for tuition. He plans on renting a room elsewhere. We’re not getting married because we want to be together forever, it’s just that even if you’re living on your own and pay your own bills you are considered dependent. Getting married is just a way for him to be considered independent in the eyes of FAFSA. And his income wouldn’t be much so i know his aid would go up since he hasn’t gotten anything in the past. I don’t plan on moving in with him. I’m living with my parents and took a semester off so I don’t have any income now, but I plan on getting another job. I just don’t want to be caught for fraud, though we would actually be legally married.
“Getting married is just a way for him to be considered independent in the eyes of FAFSA.”
That’s the answer - you would be committing fraud. Don’t do it.
Do you realize that there are other implications to being married besides getting your BFF more aid? Like you being on the hook for his credit card debt ? What happens if he decides he doesn’t want a divorce in a few years and instead of the $750 “do it yourself” divorce you are planning you have to pay a lawyer? What happens if a relative dies and leaves you money and your “husband” claims it’s half his?
I see a lot of legal bills in your future.
It’s not fraud, it’s just not a good idea. It will be a real, legal marriage and you will be responsible for his ‘family’ debts and he for yours. All this for $6000 Pell grant?
Wouldn’t I only have to pay his debt if he died? we wouldn’t have any joint credit cards. I’ve let him look up more of this, his sister has too because she wanted to move out as well. Well I hope we don’t divorce. no one would leave me money. Not all guys are that bad. We were friends before we became a couple. If we end up working out we won’t divorce. This isn’t a felony. We’re both citizens. I’ve read a few articles where they encouraged people doing this and a guy even set up a business to connect people so they get married. Im thinking about a prenup.
Thanks guys! I will dicuss this with him
Not necessarily; in fact, not likely. Depends where they live, when the debt was incurred, and what the debt was for.
That being said, getting married for the sole (or main) reason of getting better financial aid is a really bad idea.
What college does he go to? Some schools don’t give more institutional aid for married students over unmarried students anyway.
Also, if his school costs $30,000 per year and after his increased federal aid the net cost is $25000 per year - how will he pay the $25000?
What do your parents say about this?
You could be liable to all his debts and he can claim half your assets. If he is in a car accident your assets get included in any lawsuit. What if one of you later refused to sign divorce papers? What if you fall in love with someone after you marry?
In many states, any debt accumulated by a couple after they marry, regardless of who does the spending, is divided evenly between the two parties should a divorce occur. However debt incurred prior to a marriage remains personal.
In the dozen or so community property states, this is generally true, with exceptions. However, it doesn’t hold true for the majority of jurisdictions.
http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/debt-marriage-owe-spouse-debts-29572.html
It’s not fraud, but it’s risky.
Sounds like you’re in a relationship. If you want to get married, then fine. But, if this isn’t someone you would marry, then don’t.
What aid do you hope to gain? For FAFSA purposes, his EFC might be $0, but all that will net him is $5730 or so in Pell Grant money, and a Direct loan. This won’t over his full coats of attending college unless he is attending a community college.
If he goes to a school that requires the CSS Profile, you may find that they ask for the parent information regardless.
In other words, this marriage might not net your future spouse enough money to attend college…at all.
What do your parents think? You’ll have to include your spouse on your financial aid forms, so if your parents are paying for your school it may be wise to discuss it with them first. You don’t want any surprises. If they object to it and withdraw financial support, all you’ll have is Pell and the federal student loan. Is that enough to pay for your school?
Even if it all works out, and you get all the things you want out of the relationship now, and amicably divorce later, there are still lingering issues. Anytime you apply for a security clearance, you’ll have to disclose this marriage and he might have to be interviewed. If you can’t locate him it might cause a delay in your hiring. Any time you register for a license, be it medical, law, etc., you’ll have to provide information about the marriage and divorce. If you want to adopt a child, you’ll have to provide the documents, sometimes certified, apothocated, or anything else they want. It’s a pain and it costs money for each document. What if you want to run for office? It will be one more thing to overcome.
It also might cause personal problems for you if you want to be married in a church in the future. That would be your own decision as to whether it will be an issue.