Reporting separated parents on FA forms

I’m filling out forms for schools that require both FAFSA and SCC Profile. My parents got separated a few months ago. My dad moved out, but his legal address is still the same. Should I report my parents as separated or married? They are not legally divorced yet, and I don’t even know if my mom will file for a divorce.

I filled out SCC profile as “Married” for the best of my ability, but FAFSA is another story. My dad is not answering my mom’s phone calls or emails because he thinks I should not apply to any colleges.

I asked my mom to call the schools I’m applying to and explain, but I’m not sure if this is a right thing to do, as it may hurt my admission chances.

Any advice?

There may be a problem if your dad is still using the home address.

Normally, you’d only use mom’s info on FAFSA for this situation.

for CSS Profile, you’d had mom do the custodial parent…and dad would fill out the NCP info.

You weren’t supposed to fill out CSS…your parents were. THEY know their incomes, assets, retirement contributions, home value/equity, etc. Usually a child wouldn’t have all that info.

SCC profile is sitting under college board account which I use for SAT/ACT score, etc. I was convinced that CSS profile is my job. Oh well.

Also, if my dad lives somewhere else, will the equity in our home count as his asset, because his primary residence is elsewhere?

The equity is split between the two parents. If there’s $200k in equity, then each parent claims $100k

The equity is split between the two parents. If there is $200k of equity, then each parent claims $100k

You said that you listed your parents as married on CSS. Did you include both parents’ incomes/assets on CSS???

You need to have your mom look over CSS to see if you included all the correct info. Collegeboard doesn’t expect young people to know all what their parents have.

You’re going to have a problem if you have married parents on CSS and separated parents on FAFSA

If my dad lives elsewhere, how should I report his share of equity in my mom’s and my primary home? Once he moves out, he no longer can claim our home as his primary residence, does it then automatically become his countable asset?

His name is on the title.

FAFSA is asking only about my mom’s assets, but I also need to fill out CSS Profile for a couple of schools, so he will need to file a custodial form.

(Note that I tried to ask this question on a different thread but it doesn’t really belong there).

Filling out FA forms, in your Dad’s case the non custodial profile for CSS, does not obligate him to help pay for college.

If the college requires CSS profile and NCP and they don’t get that info, then you won’t get aid from them.

He wants to keep you from getting aid?

You might have to only apply to colleges that ask for FAFSA and ones that don’t require NCP for CSS, and put that your parents are separated, and only use mom’s info.

I already applied to colleges that require CSS profile and included my dads assets that I knew about. I didn’t know what else to do.

I will ask my mom to submit FAFSA as married living together. What else can I do. They are still married, I don’t even know what my dad’s new address is. He might have left the country by now.

My dad doesn’t want me to do college, period. It has nothing to do with aid. He didn’t go to college and doesn’t understand it. He hates the fact that the CSS and FAFSA process is so invasive, and refuses to collaborate. There are many problems with him, this is being the least one. He waited until I turn 18 to move out. I don’t want to go into it on this forum.

If your mom is separated from your dad and they are not living together, she only has to list her income and assets on FAFSA and CSS profile.

How is she going to report your dad’s income and assets truthfully if he is not cooperating?

Did they file a 2015 tax return together?

Your dad is half owner of the home, so half of the equity is his. He doesn’t lose his share just because he doens’t live there.

I hope that you’re not applying to any schools that require NCP info.

You have a big problem. On CSS you indicated that your parents are married, then on FAFSA it appears that you’re listing them as separated.

Which schools are on your list?

What else can you do? You can complete FAFSA correctly for your situation, which from what you are reporting is a marital status of “divorced or separated.” This means that your father’s income and assets are not included on the form. If you already submitted the Profile, you will need to do a correction to remove your father’s financial information, and for the schools that require it your father will need to complete the non-custodial parent Profile form.

Who should be communicating to college about it? Me or my mom?

I believe you can print out the CSS profile and make corrections on it and mail it to the schools.

What schools are you applying to?

@tulachka32

You need to contact your colleges. You made a mistake when filing your CSS Profile. If your parents are separated, you should,only have included your mom…and your dad would have done the non-custodial parent form.

I’m not sure HOW you make that correction. You may have to call the college board and ask them.

If your dad is leaving the country and leaving the home/value to your mom, then she may have all the equity. Are there any younger kids?

I’m applying to Tulane and Northeastern. And a few state schools.

submit your FAFSA correctly…with only your mom’s info, and listed as "separated, if indeed they ARE separated.

Contact the schools where you have submitted an incorrect Profile, and explain what happened. You aren’t the first student to make such a mistake. They will tell you want to do for THEIR school.

^^^

WHY??? Tulane and NEU require NCP info!!!

Stop applying to schools that will NOT give you aid since your dad won’t fill out the NCP info!!

What schools are you applying to that you KNOW FOR SURE that you have ALL COSTS COVERED and you know you can afford and do NOT require your dad’s info??

Please have your mom chime in with her CC account. It sounds like you’re about to make some risky app choices.