<p>I am registering for the CSS and it asks:
What is the current marital status of the student's biological or adoptive parents?
I put never married for this one
12. What is the current marital status of the student's parent(s) who are providing information on this application?
I don't know if I should put never married or widowed for this question.</p>
<p>My mom never married my dad but she did marry in 2003 to my step-dad who died in 2006 so she is a widow but not to my dad.
I'm not sure if question 12 refers to my mother's legal marital status or her marital status in relationship with my dad because when I select widow a message pops up that says I should only post the info of the surviving parent but both my parents are alive.</p>
<p>I can see why that would be a confusing choice to make. My understanding is that your Mom’s marital status is widowed. She was married and her husband passed away, which makes her a widow. As for the first question, does it ask for the relationship between your mother and biological father specifically? Also, to complicate matters further, was her husband your step-father? or did he legally adopt you?</p>
<p>I think the proper answer is single with respect to the relationship between your parents. The question seeks to determine if anyone other than your parents contributes to the family income. Since your stepfather passed away quite a while ago and obviously won’t be contributing to your education or the family income, the fact that your mother was married to him at one point is irrelevant.</p>
<p>My stepdad never adopted me.</p>
<p>It really doesn’t matter, to be honest. Your mom is widowed, that is true. She is also single. Either way, it doesn’t impact your aid … and either answer is true. Pick one, and use it throughout your college career (unless she remarries, of course). I would probably use widowed, as that is her most recent status with respect to marriage.</p>
<p>This may only really matter at the schools that will ask for NCP info. It sounds like you still have a NCP…your bio dad.</p>
<p>Do any of your schools ask for NCP info?</p>