<p>My mother has had full custody of me since birth, my father does not even have visitation rights! I do not know his address, but his company automatically sends a check (that is deducted directly from his paycheck) each week for child support. I know that he makes >$100K/year. Will the colleges try to go after him and make him pay for college for me, since I'll be apply for need-based financial aid? Or since he had no legal rights to me is it different? I know that he will flat-out refuse, and in the child support order from ~17 years ago, there was no mention of college stating that he had to pay.</p>
<p>The taxpayers and the universities expect him to help pay for your education, even though his involvement has been as you stated. You will not be able to get need-based aid unless he is involved in the process. Then, your aid will be calculated assuming he is contributing, even if he is refusing to do so. </p>
<p>Knowing this, if you think you are going to have a financial problem, you should explore options that are within your budget.</p>
<p>FAFSA does not ask for the financial information of the non custodial parent - only that of the custodial parent (and her spose if there is one). FAFSA is what all federal aid is based on (pell grant, federal loans, Academic Competitiveness grant etc). If you apply to a FAFSA only school (most State Us and some others) you will not have to provided his information.</p>
<p>Schools that require CSS Profile will require the information of the custodial parent and spouse and the non custodial parent and spouse.</p>
<p>Only for schools using the CSS will both parents and all step parents income be considered for financial need. FAFSA only schools use the custodial parent's income to determine need.</p>
<p>FAFSA does require the income of the custodial parents spouse if he/she has remarried. Many people have discovered this too late.
<a href="http://www.finaid.org/educators/pj/stepparents.phtml%5B/url%5D">http://www.finaid.org/educators/pj/stepparents.phtml</a></p>
<p>Right. The FAFSA v. CSS distinction above is accurate. FAFSA, no noncustodial info required or contribution expected -- CSS, required and expected.</p>