Getting Married FAFSA help

Paying for College
1

<p>My parents filed a FAFSA a couple a weeks ago. I however got engaged just after they filed. I now would like to file the FAFSA under what I really am (independent). I'm not sure how to go about doing this. I contacted my university (Purdue University) and they basically said that there is no way to amend the FAFSA. Since the FAFSA isnt due until June, I feel like there must be someway to change my marriage status for the coming year.</p>

<p>Thanks for your help.</p>

2

<p>You’re not independent. You’re engaged. You’re still a dependent.</p>

<p>When will you be getting married?</p>

<p>I don’t think you can change your FAFSA even if you get married in 2010. I think your FAFSA marital status is set the day you file. </p>

<p>If your parents will not help you financially once you marry, then you probably need to delay getting married.</p>

3

<p>We havent set a date yet, but we were planning on doing it fairly soon. I would think that there would be a way that I could get them to completely ignore the first submission.</p>

4

<p>Similar question just raised yesterday on Cc</p>

<p>From finaid.org</p>

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<p>Your status is probably not going to change since the date filed, you were single and a dependent.</p>

5

<p>It would also be a good idea, before you set your date, to run some financial scenarios using the on-line tools and/or spend some time with the finaid office at your school to see how any remaining college finances will be impacted as well has make sure you understand your parent(s) position with regard to college funding. You can be engaged for as long as you need/want fortunately. My H and I and some of our friends were engaged for several years for all sorts of reasons…mostly financial… before we actually “married.”</p>

6

<p>I don’t mean to be indelicate, but is there a reason that you plan on getting married “fairly soon”? It sounds like at the time your parents filed FAFSA (a couple of weeks ago), marriage was not on the horizon. </p>

<p>If there isn’t a “reason” to marry in the near future, you may consider waiting. If there is a reason to marry soon, perhaps your parents will continue to help you with your tuition even if you marry. That’s what I would do as a parent. :)</p>

7

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<p>As noted, your status has not changed. You are still SINGLE. Engaged doesn’t change your marital status designation on the FAFSA (or anywhere else I can think of). </p>

<p>And as further noted…your initial filing of the FAFSA was as a single person…you cannot change your marital status after the initial filing FOR THIS YEAR. Timing is everything. The same thing would be the case if your parents divorced, died, or if your parents had another baby…numbers would NOT change for these fields on a previously filed FAFSA for this year.</p>

<p>And third agreement…run those numbers. You income/assets and the income and assets of your spouse (I’m talking NEXT YEAR if you do choose to marry in 2010) for 2010 will both be counted in the financial aid application formula. You may find that you don’t really “net” much by being independent. And remember…if your parents are still supporting you, you would likely need to indicate the money they were providing you under “money paid on your behalf”…this might be things like your rent, utilities, cars, insurance, food, etc…if your family is paying for these things.</p>

8

<p>As several other people have mentioned:

  1. You are engaged, not married. Even if you had yet to file FAFSA you would still be a dependent for FAFSA when you are engaged.
  2. You cannot change your marital status on FAFSA. This is specifically stated on FAFSA. It is the marital status as of the date you filed FAFSA. </p>

<p>No there is no way you can get them to ignore the initial submission. They are bound by federal regulations. And the regulations do not allow marital status to be changed.</p>