How do I fill out Fafsa with these circumstances

I am not sure how to fill out Fafsa because my mom passed away in 2018 and I don’t have access to her taxes. My dad is not in my life so he is non-applicable. I live with my grandparents but I can’t put them down as my guardian. I don’t know if there is a separate thing i can fill out or what?

You are independent. You file as an independent student

If your father is legally out of your life you are independent. You might be asked to prove that.

I’m sorry for your loss.

If your mom is no longer alive, you don’t need her financial information or her taxes as that information will not be used on the financial aid forms.

When you say your dad is not in your life, what does that mean? Does it mean he doesn’t support you but you know where he is? Does is mean that he is in jail? Does it mean you have not seen him in many many years and have no way of knowing where he is?

When your mom died, were your grandparents named as your legal guardians? Please find that out. If so, you old be independent for financial aid purposes.

You will need to ask each school for a professional judgment review, with the goal of being declared independent for financial aid purposes. Each school will have its own requirements for what they need, but they should be somewhat similar. This is called a dependency override.

Fill out your FAFSA & there will be a point where you can indicate that you are unable to provide parent info. After you submit, contact each school to ask how to request a dependency override.

Best to you.

@kelsmom

If the grandparents were appointed legal guardians, wouldn’t this student be independent without asking for a dependency override?

She needs to find out if her grandparents were appointed her legal guardians upon her mom’s death too…I believe.

Yes, if they have legal guardianship, no dependency override is necessary. She might want to contact her first choice school & talk with an aid officer about the specifics of her situation.