<p>I've noticed that it is generally required to turn in the financial information of non-custodial parents. I live with my mother, as I have my entire life, but I don't know and haven't ever had contact with my father. He is not listed on my birth certificate, and neither me nor my mom would know how to contact him.</p>
<p>Obviously, it's still early, but I'm curious how I will have to handle this situation when the time starts, and what I need to start doing now (if you haven't noticed, I tend to plan way ahead: you won't see me rushing to catch college deadlines!) to avoid letting this become a hang up.</p>
<p>Ask the colleges' financial aid offices.</p>
<p>Colleges have different ways of treating that situation so do as Northstarmom advises. There is a form or forms that often is used where someone at your school, a minister or other such person certifies that the other parent is not at all in your life along with signed statement from your other parent.</p>
<p>EXCELLENT for you to be starting on this early. Start off by getting a notarized, maybe several, notarized copies of your birth certificate, to prove that there is no proof. You might also have someone else official, who could certify your situation, write it up on official stationery--guidance counselor, social worker, clergy person, someone not family, who would have no personal benefit by your receiving more financial aid. Just have these documents ready--you will not need them in all likelihood until the winter of your senior year, when you are filling out finan, aid forms, and then dealing with specific places and their requirements--but THIS is something you can do NOW, and meet possible "10 days to send us this information" deadlines next winter and spring.</p>
<p>For the FAFSA, the standard basic finan, aid app. which is avaible beginning Jan. 1, you probably list your parents as "single" and then the form will only ask for finan. info on one parent. If you are applying to (generally) an "upper tier" school, they may also want you to fill out a Profile finan. aid app.--this is from the College Board, and requires more detail (It will say on the particular schools' websites, which forms you need to do for finan. aid). This is the form that does require far more detailed information on both parents. IF any of the schools you apply to, require the Profile (AND if you apply ED you may need to do an estimated Profile by Nov. 1 or Dec. 1, but generally if finan. aid is going to be a determining factor, it is not a good idea to apply ED), you should probably contact them as to how to deal with the situation of no contact at all with your father, and no legal way even to certify that he is. I am sorry for whatever difficulties your situation may have engendered over time, but you WILL be able to manage to apply for aid, and in almost all cases, the FA officers have seen it before.</p>
<p>And keep your grades up, do well on the SATs, DON'T miss any deadlines in any of the process, and make yourself a candidate that a college is thrilled to admit and aid. Always double check the deadlines and the paperwork! Do well what you CAN do, in this process!</p>
<p>I would recommend waiting to obtain the certified documents from people who know your circumstances. Some schools require such documents to be less than 45 days old.</p>
<p>I have had some experience with this. You will only need additional documentation for profile schools. For the FAFSA you just list your Mother as single and give her information.</p>