<p>Your FAFSA is completed with the parent with whom you reside the most in the year prior to the date you filed the form. It has NOTHING to do with tax dependency at all. Nothing.</p>
<p>If you lived with your parents an equal number of time, then the parent who provides most of your support is listed as the custodial parent on the FAFSA. Usually, this is the parent with the higher income.</p>
<p>If you really want to use your mom on the FAFSA in subsequent years, then make her residence your permanent residence ( that is where you live when you are not in college), and just spend occasional nights here and there with your dad. </p>
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<p>Even IF the dad is paying these things…If the student is living with the mom most of the time, SHE would be the custodial parent for FAFSA purposes.</p>