<p>My mom is a single mother and separated from my dad, who gives no type of support or communication. I have seen him but there is no communication any longer. He's just forgotten in the family. So I don't have access to his information, employment, etc. </p>
<p>Should I try to fill information in college applications or other source?</p>
<p>If they are separated but not divorced from a legal marriage then you need to include him on the college applications. There is no harm in doing so.</p>
<p>The main form for financial aid is the FAFSA - only the parent you live with the majority of the year needs to fill out this federal government form and report their income. Many private schools also use the CSS form which is a non-governmental assessment for need based aid. This form does require participation by the “non-custodial” parent. The schools that use the CSS, however, will typically be more receptive to your personal circumstances regarding your Dad.</p>
<p><a href=“https://fafsa.ed.gov/”>https://fafsa.ed.gov/</a></p>
<p><a href=“CSS Profile Home – CSS Profile | College Board”>College Board - SAT, AP, College Search and Admission Tools;
<p>@keesh17 How can they expect me to answer. I don’t know where he lives, and he never ever responded a phone call from my family. This is personal but is there another alternative?</p>
<p>Just put “unknown” in the spaces where you don’t know the info.</p>
<p>Yes, answer truthfully what you know - name, age, etc and truthfully say “unknown” when you don’t. Being truthful from the start will avoid having to explain later when you are accepted and working on financial aid applications. Acknowledging your dad in the application does not in anyway validate that you have a relationship with him and you shouldn’t view it as such.</p>
<p>@keesh17 Okay, I’ll put down the basics, but it still not sufficient. And how will they know that he gives no type of support? lol</p>
<p>I think there is a waiver for financial aid. I’ve read threads on this forum where students were required to get a letter from a teacher, doctor, or minister that confirmed the estranged parent had no contact. @thumper1, @cptofthehouse, @mom2collegekids, or @kelsmom might know. They’ve been on the forum a long time and know a lot about a wide range of topics.</p>
<p>Barcarkid - On the college applications financial aid is not the purpose for the questions about your dad so there is no negative impact to you to be truthful about what you know about your dad. The FAFSA and CSS deal with the financial aid stuff.</p>
<p>All the federal government aid for students is based on the FAFSA which requires you to report only the income of the parent you live with most of the time. In your case, your dad is not needed for the FAFSA at all.</p>
<p>I’m assuming that your dad has minimal income. If that isn’t the case (he is well to do but doesn’t want to pay) then the schools that use the CSS will expect him to contribute and will offer you less assistance from the schools own internal sources. Under this scenario you should be able to convince the school that this is unreasonable since the relationship is truly and utterly estranged. This is where the letters austinmshauri speaks of come into play.</p>