<p>I'm getting ready to do my FAFSA forms and almost done with my college applications. But I have a question. My mom and my father have been divorced for about 16 years now. He's gone somewhere; he hasn't paid any child support for those 16 years. I don't know what to do with my FAFSA and college applications because they were married and divorced. Can I list her as single? How am I supposed to get money from my dad when I don't even know who he is? I'm worried colleges are going to hike up my EFC's and the feds aren't going to give me a lot of money. My mom makes about or less than 28K.</p>
<p>When there are divorced parents FAFSA only requires you to report the custodial parent (and spouse if there is one). You will not be required to report your non custodial parent.</p>
<p>However, if you apply to schools that require CSS profile then profile will ask for non custodial parent information (and spouse) in addition to custodial parent (and spouse).</p>
<p>You do realize that the 2008-2009 FAFSA that is currently available is not the one you need to fill out? The one you will need to fill out is the 2009-2010 which is not available until January 1st.</p>
<p>Yes ma'am. I know by "getting ready" I just meant helping my mom file her taxes, etc. What if I can't supply my non custodial parent's information for the CSS profile?</p>
<p>And even Profile schools can deal with situations of a birth parent who has abandoned parental responsibilities. Apply where you are interested, explain what you need to explain, and see what the colleges decide. </p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>Good - just checking. You would be surprised how many people do file the wrong year's FAFSA so I always like to check so they do not inadvertently miss important deadlines because they think they have completed FAFSA and have not because they did the wrong one..</p>
<p>For school's that do require non custodial parent information you can request a waiver and explain the situation. You would need to check with each school for what supporting documentation they may require. Often it may be a letter from someone who has known the family for a while such as a pastor, or from a school counselor that knows your situation.</p>
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<blockquote> <p>Can I list her as single?>></p> </blockquote>
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<p>You will have to say she is divorced. But as others have pointed out, contact the schools. Find out what they need to give you a waiver for the non-custodial parent info on the Profile (there is NO non-custodial parent info on the FAFSA). The schools have a process for dealing with this. You will need someone reliable (clergyman, counselor, etc) to make a written statement about your dad's absence. Good luck to you.</p>
<p>And remember that the waiver issue occurs even if your parents had never been married. The issue is not their marital status, but the fact that each is your biological/legal parent. Listing her as single wouldn't solve anything anyway; you'd still need your non-custodial parent's information for Profile schools.</p>
<p>I want to let you know that you may hear it's impossible to get waivers, but it's not. However, schools are going to vary in how helpful they are about it. We wrote my son's top schools early in the process to ask about a waiver; their responses and instructions helped us to know who would be easier to work with. A couple of schools just wanted an email narrative from my son and I about the situation, some wanted a special form and statement, and a couple wanted very detailed information from 2 or more sources that were not teachers, lawyers, or social workers.</p>
<p>and for my son, even sending a copy of his birth certificate with NO father listed wasn't good enough. They didn't believe I had never received child support. Tax returns showing no support weren't good enough. He is attending a FAFSA only school.</p>
<p>sueinphilly, which school is he attending. Thank you everyone for your input/info. I'm going to contact UVA about this waiver very soon. Does anyone happen to know how lenient they are about this?</p>