<p>My father is 100% non-custodial (doesn't even have, nor does he WANT visitation rights), and makes probably around $100,000/year. My parents were never married. The company he worked for since I was born got shut down a few months ago, so we have only received occasional checks for like $100 or $50 cash here and there, since his COMPANY was the one automatically taking money out of his checks each week and automatically sending it to me. My mother has never taken him back to court for a re-adjustment of the child support -- we basically just leave him alone and he does his own thing. Also, the child support order runs out the day I turn 18, and there is nothing in there about him having to pay for college. Neither my mother or myself are going to take him back to court for more child support or to make him pay for college: we are DONE with him.</p>
<p>I'm filing a petition for his obligation to pay because I don't even want him involved with me or my life after the day I turn 18. Do you think that it might be approved or no?</p>
<p>Also, from what I've heard from the very limited contact I have with him and his family, he just bought a house and is up to his ears in debt, can't pay his mortgage, etc. If the colleges did deny my petition to exclude him in the CSS profile, would they expect him to pay a lot because of his relatively high income, or not a lot because he has HUGE expenses each month?</p>
<p>They don't care about consumer debt, unfortunately. A parent wanting to get more aid usually considers paying off debt from savings. Dad has a new job and still makes $100,000?</p>
<p>You might get a break if you submit all documentation. Some colleges refer to your exact situation on their websites and say they will consider each case individually. Unfortunately, there are also married dads who live with their kids who don't want to pay for college either.</p>
<p>You should check with your state law. In some states, child support payments cannot cease until the child graduates from high school, whether or not s/he is 18.</p>
<p>Good luck with that whole financial aid thing. It's a mess any way you slice it. Lots of parents who are involved in their kids' lives do want to or can't afford to pay for college. Certainly, your father is under no obligation to pay anything.</p>
<p>You need to select schools to apply to very carefully -- the majority of schools that accept the profile will expect your father to contribute. Nothing in the law compels any parent to pay for college -- so it isn't anything out of the ordinary for your father to refuse.</p>
<p>You are just going to have to have him fill out the paperwork and see what the EFC is.</p>
<p>Schools that use only the FAFSA ONLY require information from the custodial parent (and spouse if there is one). You might want to consider applying to FAFSA only schools.</p>