<p>Okay so my parents are unmarried but live together. My dad has the higher income but my mom has me declared in her taxes. So I I don't know what to put under marital status of my parents for the FASFA. I've found sites who say treat it like a divorce and others like a marriage and FASFA doesn't say anything about it. Also if it is a marriage or divorced, what am I suppose to put as the date of the "marriage/divorce"?</p>
<p>*If your parents are living together and have not been formally married but meet the criteria in their state for a common-law marriage, they should report their status as married on the application. If the state does not consider their situation to be a common-law marriage, then you should follow the rules for divorced parents. Check with the appropriate state agency concerning the definition of a common-law marriage…</p>
<p>Currently, only nine states (Alabama, Colorado, Kansas, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Iowa, Montana, Oklahoma and Texas) and the District of Columbia recognize common-law marriages. In addition, five states have “grandfathered” common-law marriage (Georgia, Idaho, Ohio, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania) allowing those established before a certain date to be recognized. New Hampshire recognizes common-law marriage for purposes of probate only, and Utah recognizes common-law marriages only if they have been validated by a court or administrative order.*</p>
<p>I also read that you would use the parent with higher income, because they would be providing more of your support. It doesn’t affect how your mom files her taxes.</p>
<p>But whether its a marriage or divorce I have to put a date and I don’t have one so should I put single instead?</p>
<p>they’re not married- unless you live in a common law state as listed above. Do you? If so then you would put the date they began living together( for example in Montana) as husband and wife.</p>
<p>If you don’t live in one of those states, you put the parent down who provides the most financial support for your family as supporting you.</p>
<p>If they are not in a common law marriage, they are not married. So you would use Mom, and she is single. Therefore, no date is necessary.</p>
<p>Kelsmom, this OP said her parents lived together BUT her dad provided the bulk of her support. Is the reason she uses her mom because mom puts her on moms tax return?</p>
<p>I would have guessed she would use her dad as the custodial parent.</p>
<p>Eek … I am really messing up these days. Someone else has a mom with a higher income, and I am getting confused. Yes, use DAD’s income! Thanks, thumper.</p>
<p>So I think this is correct . Since you live with both parents who are not married and your dad provides the bulk of your support… You would list your parents as single, and your DAD would be listed as your custodial parent on the FAFSA with his income and assets provided only.</p>
<p>I think it’s ridiculous that both parents’ incomes aren’t being included here on FAFSA. They live together…period.</p>