Actually, @brantly, it is 18 or graduates from h.s., whichever occurs later. Many high school seniors are 18 and it is reasoned that they still need to be supported through high school. Some high school grads are still 17, and it is reasoned that they still need to be supported until they are 18.
WRONG. This parent is talking about the FAFSA. Only the custodial parent info is used on the FAFSA for divorced or separated parents…NOT the income from both parents.
According to this source:
http://family.findlaw.com/child-support/when-does-child-support-end-.html
“In most states, child support ends when a child turns 18 or graduates from high school, whichever occurs FIRST. In other states, the age may be 21.” With these possible exceptions: “In most states, child support ends when the child reaches age 18. Some states, however, allow child support to continue beyond 18 in certain circumstances, such as if the child is still living at home and attending high school, or if the child has special needs.”
@twoinanddone
I know this sounds silly but why not ask the daughter why she wants her bank information. It really is none of her business.
If there I fraud going on isn’t the OP in the clear. She did not fraudantly sign the the FAFSA. Both the father and daughter would be in trouble.
Assuming that there is no fraud, then it appears that the father is taking care of his daugher. There are so many stories posted here where the parents refusing to help pay for college even when able. Poisoning the well is another issue but we are not hearing the other side of the story.
That article contradicts itself. In the first paragraph it states it last until 18 or age of majority, and can be extended until high school graduation.
Then without citation says
. No support for that statement, or the one just above it that says you must take action to stop child support. That just isn’t true. Everyone isn’t running to court when their kids turn 18, or 19 or 21. The court order from years early will state a termination date.
I have never seen an order when child support stops when the child is still in high school. I’m sure they exist, but I don’t think they are common. Never seen an order to stop payments if child is 17 but a hs grad (courts might stop payments if the child drops out of high school if the payer petitions) The chart in the article is for legal age of majority for different things (getting married, drinking, buying lotto tickets), NOT for child support. A 17 year old high school grad is not emancipated. If he isn’t 18, he cannot sign a contract to lease of car or apartment, buy cigarettes, own a gun . In most states he can’t get a DL without a parent’s signature. In fact, he can’t even buy Nyquil. Why would a court think that child support should end and the 17 year old should be set on an ice float to survive?
For all we know, their divorce decree stated child support until hs completion. Or maternal custody and the ensuing child support, to that point only. It’s possible it’s the maternal custody that was tied to the particular high school- ie, when done with hs, D was free to move to her father’s legal oversight and care.
Since OP has been quiet, we know little.
It sounds like perhaps the D might be claiming that OP’s house is her primary residence and using mom’s lower income to file for FAFSA. We don’t know, however, whether the D has ever received any FA as a result of filing. I file every year and only once received $500 because I had two kids in college. If I was the OP, I would try to get a copy of the FAFSA form that was filed.
Another thing to look at is the divorce decree. In my state, if one or both parents have college or professional degrees child support and/or payment of college tuition is often ordered. The theory is that kids of divorced parents have enough bad stuff going on that they should at least be able to achieve the same level of education as their least educated parent. Thus, in many cases, parents are responsible for children past HS graduation age, but only if in the decree.
The credit check is a good idea in general but I don’t think it would show the FAFSA use.
a credit check will show if any student loans have been taken out and the mother is a fraudulent “co-signer.”
Your right @thumper1 I’m not divorced so my expertise is limited there.
It is really unlikely the ex or the daughter could take out a federal student loan in the OP’s name.
I still think a credit check is advisable, if only to set her mind at ease.
Credit report requests are free. Apply for a credit check from all three agencies (TRW, etc). If your credit reports are accurate, you know your ex isn’t messing with your credit, which should be your main concern. We files a FAFSA for both of our kids when they were entering freshman year of college even though we knew they wouldn’t qualify for need-based aid. The reason we filled it out was because some schools will not award merit aide unless you have “proven” that you aren’t eligible for need-based. We did not fill it out after her freshman year because she received no merit aide at her selected school so we knew it was a waste of time. That said, we received regular reminders to do so. The emails you receive have NO MEANING. As long as you check your credit reports and they are clear, drop it. NOTHING to be gained by thinking about this further, and much to be lost. Focus on a classy, courteous relationship with your daughter and a polite relationship with your ex. Relationships change over time if you take the high road.
I’d urge a degree of caution. You can accuse your daughter and her father of fraud but there are very serious consequences if the allegation proves to be false. And if you knew of the fraud–and that will be an issue since you admit to getting emails from FAFSA–the question will be asked as to whether you were aware or complicit in what was happening but elected to keep quiet.
@thumper1 You are absolutely correct. If the students indicates their parents are divorced, the FAFSA will only seek information from the custodial parent. The non-custodial parents financial details will not be collected. The process for determining who qualifies as the ‘custodial parent’ is clearly defined.
My final question: why would you want to drag your daughter through this?
I get FAFSA emails to my grad student email. I signed up out of habit but never submitted a FAFSA with that email. I still get emails reminding me about FAFSA.
Getting an email means that at some point in some way, FAFSA acquired it. It doesn’t mean fraud or that it should even signal fraud.