<p>Hi,</p>
<p>I have a question. I'm currently living with a single parent. I know that on all financial aid forms, it requires the non-custodial parent to fill out a form to determine their responsibility for the student's education.</p>
<p>However, my non-custodial parent is in a different country and overall has no possibility to contribute in any regard.</p>
<p>How would this properly be addressed in the financial aid forms?</p>
<p>Thank you for your help.</p>
<p>Not all forms ask for non-custodial information. For a description of the process here, see my (old) blog at <a href="http://blogs.mit.edu/CS/blogs/barkowitz/archive/2004/12/10/2844.aspx%5B/url%5D">http://blogs.mit.edu/CS/blogs/barkowitz/archive/2004/12/10/2844.aspx</a> (for new posts I am at <a href="http://daniel.mitblogs.com/%5B/url%5D)">http://daniel.mitblogs.com/)</a>). But out of the country doesn't prevent contributions or collection of information. Talk to the colleges you are applying to and they can answer the question of how much information they want from your non-cust parent.</p>
<p>Thanks for the info.</p>
<p>However we also have very minimal contact, so I don't know how easy it would be to get information. Beyond the fact that the possible contribution would be basically non-existant.</p>
<p>Hey,
My parents are divorced and my mom ( I live with my mom) has told me that certain fin. aid forms (I forget which one/s) inc. the non. cust. parents spouse as a fin. aid supporter but I'm worried about my Dad contributing, let alone his wife. soooo I guess my question is whether they really do look at the spouse of the non. cust. parent? And how often?</p>
<p>the short list:</p>
<p>any school that requires the CSS profile or their own financial aid form will want the information from both your custodial , non-custodial and stepparents. Some schools will only look at the stepparents income to the extent of which your parent has benefitted from the marriage. However, your natural parents will be the first stop in paying for your education. Financial aid forms are submitted and reviewed each year.</p>
<p>Ok, I guess my question is this:</p>
<p>My non-custodial parent lives in Russia. Apart from the fact that the yearly income is probably around $3000, it is completely ludicrous to assume that we can get the parent to fill out the appropriate forms.</p>
<p>So, is there any way to explain the situation to colleges or do we basically have to go through the incredible hassle of trying to get useless information from somebody that would have no impact?</p>
<p>If your school takes the CSS profile, call them to see how they will handle it. Just because your parent lives out of the country and makes 3000 it will nto absolve him for being an active participant in financing your education. </p>
<p>If he only makes $3000, IMHO, it is in your best interest to have him file the non-custodial information so the school won't harass you about it later because it really won't affect your FA. You would be in a worse situation if you did not have the information.</p>
<p>I agree with sybbie! Better to file it for $3000 (and if he has no assets, expect no contribution) than not get aid.</p>
<p>Plus with the ability to do much of it online, the hassle is vastly reduced.</p>