If my parents aren’t legally separated but have been living separately for almost 5 years now, can/should I put “separated” as their marital status on my fafsa and common app? The reason that they’re not legally separated or divorced is that my father refuses to sign the papers. He still drives 4 hours once or twice a month to spend the weekend here, but it’s not like we enjoy his presence here, quite the opposite, actually. He’s also the main provider and pays for most of our expenses bc my mom only makes a few thousand a year. If someone were to ask him, he’d say that their marital status is married and only living separately bc of his job, but it’s a lot more complicated than that and it’s not how the rest of my family (myself included) feels. Additionally, they file taxes as “married” so would that complicate things/mess with my college application and financial aid if I were to put them as “separated?”
EH, nm
You pretty much asked this question on your other thread. Did you not like the answers and information given to you?
It is up to your parents to decide if they are married or separated. If THEY think they are separated, they are. If you mother is willing to sign the FAFSA as separated, she can. You won’t be able to use the DRT from the IRS. She’ll have to go through their tax form and separate out all her income, and the same with assets.