My friend and I live in Florida, however we are still considered out of state because we are 19 years old and moved here without our parents. We have to pay out-of-state tuition which is triple the price of in-state. Also, although I practically support myself, FAFSA still sees me as a dependent and bases the tax return on my parents income, so I am not eligible for a pell grant.
My friend and I were going to get married, we have no romantic feelings for each other, we would eventually file for divorce. We are solely doing this so that we can get in-state tuition and pell grants. Otherwise, I don’t know how I am going to be able to go to school because it too expensive to be a out-of-state student. We both could save upwards to $20,000 a year. My one concern is, the both of us have lived in Florida for 2 years. I have filed my tax returns under this address, I have registered to vote here, I have my license here. My friend just recently got her license and hasn’t had a job in this state. If we get married, will we be eligible for in-state tuition even though one of us doesn’t have Florida residency for tuition purposes? Is being married to each other after living here enough for eligibility for school?
On UCFs page which is where we are going, one thing that gives you IS is, and it says, “I am married to a person who has maintained legal residence in Florida for the past 12 months. I have now established legal residence and intend to make Florida my permanent home”
People get married for all kinds of reasons. The only one that is illegal is if you marry a non-citizen with the sole intent to gain US citizenship.
There are benefits to getting married, but there are a lot of negatives too. You will be responsible for each other’s debts, medical and otherwise (although you can each stay on your parents’ health insurance under the ACA, even if married). Getting divorced isn’t always easy.
Did you read the requirements? If you are already attending college in Florida?
If she doesn’t work then wouldn’t your money go to supporting her also, do you make enough for all the living expenses and for both of you to attend college if you would each qualify for FA and instate tuition?
Also what are your parents saying? Would they support this, would they help you pay for college? Are they claiming you on their taxes and support you in any way?
Wouldn’t it be simpler and easier to attend college in your own home state? You knew when you applied and got accepted that you were an out of state student. You knew it would cost you more.
As noted above, folks get married for all sorts of reasons.
Remember that when you file both of your fafsa forms as married students, you will need to include each other’s incomes and assets on both of your forms.
And you will be required to include any money paid on your behalf the previous year as well…any money. So if eithe of your parents paid any of your bills…rent, utilities, etc…this would be counted.
Can you also demonstrate that you are self supporting as independent for tuition purposes students? Will you be paying all of your own bills?
And lastly, and most important…the Pell Grant is $5730 or so…which I suspect will not totally find your college costs. In addition, if independent for financial aid, you will be able to take an additional $4000 in Direct loans.
Will those amounts be sufficient to fund your college costs? Because if not, all of your marriage gymnastics for finances might be worthless.
Her mother is all for this, our parents would continue to help our funds for college . Me and her have been living on our own supporting ourselves for the past two years. Nothing would change besides the lowered cost of tuition.
If your parents are contributing to your college funds, you could very well need to report that.
It will be pretty obvious if your can pay your college costs, but don’t have sufficient income to do so. This could very well trigger verification. And you will need to then divulge where your money is coming from.
Like I said…all you would get different is a Pell Grant, or portion of it…and $4000 in additional Direct Loan funds.
Will this pay for your college costs? Your school likely won’t give you a penny more need based aid.
Also, we were told that we would receive in state tuition after a year of living in Florida however that information was false because our parents did not move down with us. So we both we’re promised in state after a year and it didn’t happen.
Why did you think you would gain instate tuition when your families lived OOS? Did you read the guidelines for your college? Usually that is nit the case…although for grad and professional schools, students can gain instate status after one year.
Your costs will still be OOS costs. Do the Pell and $4000 additional loans really make the difference between attending and not?
I’ll restate my opinion. You knew going in that you were an OOS resident with OOS costs. This was not a surprise.
If you want instate costs, go to an instate college where your family resides. Likely this would reduce the cost sufficiently that you would not need to do the marriage of convenience thing.
ETA…agree about the prenup…actually both bride and groom need one, in my opinion.
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So we both we’re promised in state after a year and it didn’t happen.
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Who “promised” you? Did you get that promise in writing?
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our parents would continue to help our funds for college . Me and her have been living on our own supporting ourselves for the past two years.
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? How have you been “supporting yourselves” if the parents are giving you money for college??? Supporting yourself means not getting money from elsewhere.
"Living, owning property, or attending school in Florida will not, in itself, establish legal residence for tuition purposes. Students who depend on out-of-state parents for support are presumed to be legal residents of the same state as their parents
Florida schools are all pretty IN YOUR FACE about residency requirements. I cannot for a moment believe that UCF promised you in-state tuition. Another UCF quote from the above page:
The financial considerations of marriage extend far beyond college tuition. Is FL a community property state?
What about things like health insurance? Can u still be covered by your parents’ policy if u are married? What about Power of Attorney privileges, inheritance rights, commingled credit history?
Yes, under the ACA a married person can still be a child under the parent’s health insurance if under 26 years old. FL is not a community property state, but since these two don’t own or earn much, that wouldn’t really matter. Credit history is not commingled; each person has his/her own score. Inheritance rights stem from the individuals. Yes, if the husband or wife died, the other spouse would inherit in the absence of a will, but again, if no assets, no issue.
Do I think this is a good idea to save $10k each for 2 years of tuition? No, but it is not illegal. Will it work for FA purposes? I think so as the marriage will most likely make them independent of their parents for tuition purposes, FA purposes, and most likely tax purposes. The parents could gift them the money rather than supporting them.
Just when I thought I’d seen it all on CC. If you were in a Halmark movie, you’d get married, then fall in love over time. If you think that it would help financials, well, I guess it’s no crazier than getting hundreds of thousands of dollars into debt. Let us know how it works out how you plan…