<p>Next year, depending on how things turn out, my mother (who is single) might be able to send some money -- though it seems like it won't be much (the size of a Pell grant at max), or none at all. I have no idea whether to put 0 (which is very likely I'll end up with) or a few hundred, or a few thousand.</p>
<p>Are you supposed to think long and hard about each field?</p>
<p>Also, does "child support" count as income? </p>
<p>Furthermore, child support will expire when I turn 18. Do I factor this in? My father has been skipping them often though, and he will contribute zilch to my tuition.</p>
<p>For FAFSA, only your mother’s income counts. However, for schools that require CSS Profile, or their own forms, both parents’ income and assets count. It doesn’t matter that your father won’t contribute; schools care only whether he can contribute. Otherwise, every parent would say, Sorry, I’m not paying, so that their kid can get more financial aid.</p>
<p>For FAFSA child support counts as income - trust me - look it up.</p>
<p>But galoisien - what form are you talking about? If it is FAFSA you show child support that was received in 2007 - not what might be paid in 2008. If child support will cease in 2008 you still show the support that was received in 2007 but ask the school for a special circumstances adjustment for loss of income because child support will cease.</p>
<p>Swimcats is correct. On the FAFSA, child support is considered income (remember…this is a financial aid form for the CHILD). Special circumstances, such as the ending of child support, are something you write to each individual college and document. </p>
<p>But remember also, that the financial aid folks assume that your contributions will be based on past income (aka savings), current income (what you are earning for the year) and future income (aka loans).</p>
<p>And as noted, if the Profile is involved, the non-custodial parent’s assets will be considerered.</p>
<p>Err, but my father has been ordered not to have any contact with me or my sister by the court, and the divorce trial recognised the fact that my father was an abusive parent.</p>
<p>If an applicant’s mother was raped, they’d expect the father-cum-rapist to pay for the college tuition 18 years later? What is this?</p>
<p>This is the major problem I am having with.</p>
<p>My “father,” who ought not really deserve that title, was domestically abusive, and wanted another wife anyway, culminating in divorce.</p>
<p>My father had the audacity to try to press for custody nevertheless, consuming an endless amount of legal fees. This was not helped by the fact that my father had sidelined my mother into being the sole income earner, so despite my father being the inferior parent he was the one of superior monetary ability in the eyes of the court.</p>
<p>Do I have to fax the legal documents or something? (Technically, I am a minor so I am technically not allowed to read the affidavits anyway.) Can I be compensated for the processing fees the court will charge? Aaaagh, I don’t get this. Are victims of domestic abuse not allowed to go to school and be forever repressed into a vicious cycle?</p>
<p>For FAFSA only schools you only report the financial information of the custodial parent.</p>
<p>You will need to ask the schools how to handle the CSS as regards your father. CSS/profile does require both parents information. I do not know how they treat a situation where the non custodial parent is abusive and under such a court order. You need to contact them and ask.</p>
<p>Yours is not a typical situation. Your father was ordered NOT to have contact with you BUT BUT…he still was ordered to pay child support which your family accepted. He was not ordered to be financially emancipated from your family. The only way to find out how this can be dealt with is to contact the financial aid offices. If possible, make an appointment to speak to someone in person. Barring that, get the email AND mailing address of someone who deals with circumstances that are not the norm. AND most of all…make sure everything you do is in writing and keep copies. </p>
<p>Agreed that you should find out how PROFILE handles such a situation. The only problem I see is that your father HAS been financially involved…and typically that is one of the acid tests for not having to complete the non-custodial waiver…a non-custodial parent who has had NO (including financial) involvement with the student and family.</p>
<p>But you do need to inquire. This situation is probably not the first one that the folks dealing with finaid have dealt with and each school will tell you how to handle this with them.</p>