Sally_Rubenstone

Question: My ex and I have been separated for 9 years but have never gotten divorced. My ex pays child support, but I have full legal and physical custody. My income is $40,000 and by the time our son starts college, I expect my ex to be retired, relying on a substantial pension and 401 [...]

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NewEnglandMother

Actually if you are separated only the custodial parent would be counted on the FAFSA. This excerpt from the studentaid.ed.gov website:

"If your parents are legally separated, the same rules that apply for a divorced couple are used to determine which parent's information must be reported. A couple doesn't have to be legally separated in order to be considered separated for purposes of the FAFSA. The couple may consider themselves informally separated when one of the partners has permanently left the household. If the partners live together, they can't be considered informally separated."

Here is a link
Completing the FAFSA 2010-2011/The Application Questions(59-93)

Of course some schools may consider the noncustodial parent through other means (Non-Custodial CSS Profile and/or their own institutional forms)

ohiobassmom

Yep. FAFSA will only want the custodial parent info but Profile schools may want both.

89wahoo

Ok so along the same lines, my ex and I have been divorced for more than 10 years. We have joint custody technically but he hasn't even seen the kids in years. Additionally he has not paid child support in forever. Guarantee he is $20,000 behind. I have essentially written him off. How exactly do we handle him, on applications and in terms of financial aid should the kids apply for it?

ohiobassmom

Again, FAFSA only schools won't consider or ask for his income info. FAFSA does ask for child support income and if you don't get any, that will help lower your EFC.

Schools that use a non-custodial parent form will want his info. It's possible to appeal based on your not being able to find him, he's behind on support, etc., but no guarantee they will honor that.