Independent status on common app

[apacheco97]

So if I was in legal guardianship from the time i was 8 to 16 years old, that was determined by the court ive heard that I am considered independent on fafsa, correct me if im wrong. But on the common app it states that one of these must be true since i said no one is claiming me as dependent last year or this year

In order to be considered as a independent applicant one must be true:

I will be at least 24 years old at the time the academic term begins.
I am married, or I have dependents for whom I am legally responsible.
I was in foster care, or I was a dependent or ward of the Court, or both my parents were deceased, at any time since I turned 13.
I am a veteran of a branch of the U.S. military.

Im not sure if I should answer yes or no since “legal guardianship determined by the court” isn’t one of the choices

[Erin_s_Dad]

You would be independent for FAFSA. That is point #3 (dependent or ward of the court).

A legal guardian is a person who has the legal authority (and the corresponding duty) to care for the personal and property interests of another person, called a ward.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_guardian

[lookingforward]

On your other thread, I gave the links to the Fafsa and its wording. “As determined by a court in your state of legal residence, are you or were you in legal guardianship?” The “were you” covers you. Now the CA asks, I know it can be for fee waiver consideration and under Household.

Can you tell us what section you found this particular question in? Or how you got there? It’s the CA or a college supplement?

Simple answer: yes, in legal usage, “ward” and under “legal guardianship” are intermixed.

Are you certain no one claimed you on their taxes for the relevant years? Is this for a public or state U? Because sometimes that’s to verify residency.