<p>Here is the deal...My parents have been divorced since January of 1999. My mom is not well off when it comes to money (she makes about $30,000 per year) but my dad on the other hand makes probably twice as much if not a little bit more or less. I am freaking out about this CSS profile thingy because three out of the six schools I am applying to require the noncustodial parent information. I am worried because my dad told me not to fill in his information and act as if I never knew him (but I talk to him all of the time) because he knows that if his info is used my fin aid info will decrease significantly. He told me not to worry about it because he has already taken care of everything (financially and legally- some loophole stuff) but I do not want to be charged with fraud and have to pay fines and go to jail because of this; and anytime I try to tell him how important it is to get his info for the profil he gets mad at me and wont tell me anything. What should I do? I can't talk to anyone at my school about it except for one teacher because they may rat me out and I DONT WANT MY DADDY TO GO TO JAIL!!! Do I still have to fill out the noncustodial thingy?</p>
<p>First off, there is absolutely NOTHING your dad could do to keep himself from having to complete the non-custodial parent profile if the school requires it. There are NO loopholes.</p>
<p>If the school requires the non-custodial parent Profile, they will not process your application for institutional aid without the form completed by your dad. If you falsify information to gain financial aid (for example pretending you do not have a non-custodial parent) you run the risk of not only losing any financial aid, but also losing your offer of admission to the colleges. Schools frown heavily on dishonesty of any kind.</p>
<p>If you really don’t want to include your dad, then apply to FAFSA only schools or schools where the non-custodial parent Profile is not required. There is absolutely too much at jeopardy for you to lie about your dad.</p>
<p>And one other thing. When your mom completes her Profile, she will be listing her marital status. Is she prepared to falsify her information too? It will be very clear that you have another parent.</p>
<p>It is very easy for schools to verify the information you provide to them. Don’t lie…tell the truth.</p>
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<p>there are no financial and legal loopholes when it comes to institutional aid because it is the schools themselves, and only the schools who decide how they want to disburse their money and their requirements for information. When it comes to institutional aid, the college will assess both of your parents ability to pay. It does not take into consideration, standing child support agreements, that say support ends when you turn 18 or that your dad is only required to pay so much $$ for college.</p>
<p>As thumper stated, if your dad does not fill out the non-custodial profile, your application for aid will be incomplete and you will not get institutional aid.</p>
<p>Your father filling out the form is to gather information to get a true picture of your financial status. Him filling out the form does not obligate to pay what the school is requesting however, the school will not give you increased aid because he will not pay.</p>
<p>Willful misrepresentation (falsifying documents and being less than truthful) is grounds to have your admissions rescinded, to lose all financial aid that you have been given, to repay all financial aid given on the basis of false statement or the have your diploma rescinded after graduation (leaving you with a worthless piece of paper).</p>
<p>@OP - if your Dad is really worried about the possible impact on your financial aid, try explaining that it won’t make much difference. I assume your perception of their incomes is approximately correct, at $30K and two times $30K. They won’t be viewed as a single household with $90K income. Each college can do this differently, but most on-line calculators treat it like adding the EFC for two separate households. There is (probably) very little impact on the final EFC for the numbers you gave.</p>
<p>On the other hand, maybe your Dad really makes a lot more than you think, or is worried about disclosing something to your Mom or the “authorities”. Maybe he runs his own business, which is a complete wild card and hassle with Profile. Maybe he just doesn’t want to cooperate. For whatever reason, if he won’t fill out the Non-custodial Profile then you have no choice but to look at schools that don’t require non-custodial information.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>