<p>This is my first post and my first time filing FAFSA (helping my daughter). My wife left me two and a half years ago and talked my youngest daughter, now 16 years old, into joining her. My wife only works when she feels like it which is seldom though she is very employable. We are not divorced or legally separated. Last year and this year we are filing our taxes as "married filing separately". My wife says she will be filing for divorce very soon. My oldest daughter continued to live with me and I have fully supported her and voluntarily sent $300 monthly for her sister (a significant amount on my limited income yet it is the bulk of their income as they bounce from friend's house to friend's house and eat off food stamps). I would like to know if on my daughter's FAFSA application her parents' marital status should be marked as married or separated/divorced and what the ramifications might be either way when it comes time for verification. Any other advice is welcome as well! Thank you.</p>
<p>Since you and your wife do not live together, for FAFSA purposes, you are separated, something that may not even be possible in some states that do not recognize legal separation. This is a place where FAFSA and tax status can differ. So, yes, your wife is separated and her income and assets only go on the FAFSA The $300 a month is reportable as child support on the FAFSA. So, yes, you are not involved FAFSA wise.</p>
<p>If your daughter applies to schools that require NCP info, which many of the PROFILE schools are, you will have a NCP form that you will have to complete. But for FAFSA only schools, your info is not needed. </p>
<p>My understanding is the OP will be custodial parent for this year (the older daughter’s FAFSA) as she lives with him. I agree the filing status for FAFSA is separated.</p>
<p>I am sorry. I misread your post. You are the custodial parent for FAFSA purposes for your older daughter since she lives with you and your status is separated. I was thinking that your daughter heading to college was the one with your ex. </p>
<p>Thanks! Yes I am the custodial parent of my daughter heading off to college in the fall. So it sounds like I will not have to supply the tax/income info of my wife. What challenges (related to this issue) do I need to prepare for at the time of verification?</p>
<p>Also, please pardon my ignorance, but what does NPC stand for?</p>
<p>Sorry again NPC is Non Custodial Parent. For FAFSA purposes, the Custodial Parent is the one with whom the student has spent the most time in the one year period before the completion of the FAFSA. This is regardless of who is declared as dependent for taxes, in court papers, divorce agreement, etc. The NPC is the other parent, the one who is not the custodial parent. For your older daughter, you are the Custodial Parent. Your ex-to-be is the NCP for that daughter. You do not have to supply any tax info or anything of your wife. For verification, the school will send you a list of things they want and it can vary widely. If there is something that is a problem, you can call the school and go over the list. </p>
<p>Oh, and again, another error. Not doing well here. It’s NCP for Non Custodial Parent. NPC is net price calculator which is a whole other thing. That is on the financial aid pages of most college and you can put in your financial info and get an estimate of what that college will give you, on average, in the way of a financial aid package. Something you might want to give a whirl for some schools your daughter is considering. Not always, accurate but closer than the FAFSA EFC which no schools I know guarantee to meet.</p>
<p>Wait a minute! While some colleges ONLY use the FAFSA, many colleges, especially private ones ALSO require you to fill out other forms. One of the most common of these is the PROFILE and it DOES require info from the NCP. So, if your D has any interest in private schools, make sure you take a look at the list of forms they require.</p>
<p>Thanks again all for setting me straight! I will check this all out.</p>
<p>@Jonri, colleges that use Profile CAN require NCP info but not all do. This is the most current list:
<a href=“CSS Profile Participating Institutions and Programs”>CSS Profile – CSS Profile | College Board;