<p>Right now I'm staying afloat on mostly need based finacial aid. My mother is interested in getting remarried, but doesn't want to see my suffer financial hardship because of it; likewise, I want to continue with my current financial situation, but I don't want to see her unhappy. The issue lies with the fact that her fiance is pretty well off. Unfortunately, he already has a son in college who's tuition he's paying and a mortgage which essentially translates too, he can't even afford to cover half of what I'm getting due to having an EFCC of 0. I also have a father who's retired in a different state. My mother's fiance also lives in a different state, and she would change residency if she would remarry. What are my options at this point? Would I be able to get emancipated to become an independent so his financial earnings don't reflect on me? I really don't want to ask her to hold off getting until I graduate, since I'm only a freshman.</p>
<p>It does not work so you can be declared independent. You have to be 24, married, have a dependent, or be a veteran. You can’t declare independent or get emancipated for FA purposes. </p>
<p>The fact of the matter is that if your mother gets married your stepfather’s income must be included in FAFSA. No way around it - they look at the whole household regardless if her new husband will pay a cent. </p>
<p>Those are the rules.</p>
<p>You will have to include your future stepdad’s income/assets once she marries.</p>
<p>Your mom has consider how all of this will affect your aid. It sounds like you’re going to lose your aid.</p>
<p>Since your mom would need to move if she marries, what will she do about a job? If moving means that she won’t be working, then that’s a problem. If moving means that she might get a BETTER paying job, then maybe she’ll be able to give you money for college.</p>
<p>Your mom and her fiance need to discuss all of this. If living with her new husband means that her own expenses will decrease (since the new H will be paying for most expenses), then maybe she can help out. However, if when she marries she’ll be expected to give much of her income to the household (help pay for the mortgage, etc), then she won’t have money to give you.</p>
<p>As an aside. You mention that your mom’s fiance has a child in college. If your mom moves in with her new H and she contributes to that household (helps with mortgage, utilities, etc) then she’s effectively helping her new H pay for HIS child’s college costs. You and your mom need to think about that.</p>
<p>You mom and her beau need to really think about the timing on the new marriage. momof2 is correct, if she marries now (and before you are 24) then both she and your new stepfather’s income are considered since it is household income used for FAFSA not just one parent. I think it is wonderful that you understand how this might change things for you, and I might suggest that you ask your mother to talk to her beau about it. Perhaps they could run some of the EFC calculators to understand what the impact financially might be for them. You say he has a son in college also. If he is the custodial parent for the son then they would have 2 in college at the same time if sounds like. It will be important for them to consider all of this when making a decision when to marry.</p>
<p>Your mom should wait to marry until you finish college. To do otherwise is foolish.</p>
<p>If your mom marries, it will effect your financial aid for the following year (since financial aid is always awarded based on the previous year). Maybe see if they can wait until your jr year to get married so when you fill out the fafsa for your senior year, it won’t count. Your jr yr is only 2 years away. You won’t be able to be an independent until you are 24 yrs old OR you get married yourself.</p>
<p>Don’t disregard the fact that he has a child in college too. While the marriage will change your financial aid sitution, it will also change his child’s situation too. If the fiancee is the custodial parent, that will mean a single larger household (4 members instead of 2 each) with 2 in college. If the fiancee’s child is getting any financial aid, the overall picture might not change very much - in fact it might improve.</p>
<p>The two of them need to run the net price calculators for both schools, looking at what happens if the get married, and if they wait. A larger family with two incomes may result in more protected income and more protected assets, resulting in a lower combined efc (even though you’re coming in with efc=0 at this point). If “pretty well off” mean affluent enough that his child is full-pay, it may make sense to wait, but if they go into the situation with their eyes open, they may decide it’s worth getting married now, even if it costs a bit more (and they are willing to come up with the difference).</p>
<p>If your parents marry during your junior year of college, make sure it is AFTER you file your FAFSA.</p>
<p>And after you complete verification, if selected. :)</p>