<p>I live with my mother, who receives minimal income - if we were to submit a FAFSA with just her income, I would probably receive decent financial aid.</p>
<p>However, my father - who I no longer speak to, or receive any child support from (infact, because he refuses to change custody, the state expects my mother to pay it to him… but anyway) lives in a household that makes well over 100k. And of course, even if I was still speaking with them, they intended to make no contribution to my college. </p>
<p>Technically, my father still has full custody of me, although I have lived with my mother for a year (about two years when I apply for college) - but once again, I dont’ see/speak/hear from him. I currently don’t have his phone number/address, and although I suppose I could get it, have no intention on doing so. </p>
<p>Will his income affect my financial aid? Should we leave him off the forms?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>The parent you live with is your custodial parent. THAT is the parent you put on the FAFSA form. If you are living with your mother more than 50% of the time, she is your custodial parent and your father’s information is NOT included on the FAFSA.</p>
<p>If, however, you apply to schools that require the Profile or a school form, you may find you will be required to include your father’s income and assets on those forms. About 1/2 of the schools using the Profile require a non-custodial parent form. Some schools have their own financial aid form and that can also include information from the non-custodial parent income and assets.</p>
<p>I am a bit confused, however. You say that your mom is required to pay child support to your father when you are living with her and her income is LESS. There has to be more to this story than you either know…or meets the eye. This makes no sense.</p>
<p>At schools that expect a contribution from non custodial parents, yes, his income will count whether you speak to him or not and whether or not he plans to contribute. Many colleges will also count any new spouses.</p>
<p>While not all Profile schools look at non custodial parents, the ones that give good aid do.</p>
<p>I think what the student is saying is that the dad doesn’t have much income but has a wife/girlfriend who does have a good income.</p>
<p>Lexsi, they don’t care who has official custody, just who you live with. </p>
<p>On the FAFSA, you just put mom’s info-- income and assets (other than the house in which you live). Profile schools will want both parents’ info (income, assets and value of house even if you live in it) BUT if your father is not remarried, the income of any girlfriend,etc, with whom he lives is irrelevant. If either of your parents remarry, THEN their spouses’ incomes count. (Mom’s spouse would go on FAFSA and Profile if you are still living with her. Dad’s spouse would go on PROFILE.)</p>
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<p>I know of a situation where dad had custody and mom was paying child support. When the child moved to the mothers place, dad claimed that he was still the custodial parent and had some expenses so that mom should continue to pay him child support. It got resolved when mom got a lawyer. Not sure if this is situation in this case.</p>
<p>Another screwed up child custody situation where changes did not get to the courts. The OP is now living with mom when she was originally living with dad. But the change in situation has not been officially made in the courts. Not an unusual situation.</p>
<p>As others have said, this does not have bearing on your FAFSA application. Your mother, your stepfather if she is married, and your finances are what count. You should look at schools that are FAFSA only or do not require Non Custodia Parent financials as one approach to getting costs met. </p>
<p>If you need financial aid to go to college, you also should have some safety schools that you can afford with what the government is going to give you for aid and for a reasonable amount of loans. The rest are all lottery tickets for you. Maybe a school will give you a full need package even though it usually does not. Yes, I’ve seen even NYU ante up when that school really wants that student. Maybe you’ll get some merit money. But all of those things are maybes. It’s alright to go for them, but you should have some sure things in mind as well.</p>
<p>I see that your ACT is in the 29/30 range. Is that an actual score?</p>
<p>There are some FAFSA-only schools that might give you a good scholarship for your stats. </p>
<p>You should look into those.</p>
<p>Exactly, my dad sent me to live with my mom… And refuses to let me come to the town to change it (we actually have to go to the court itself… or hire exspensive lawyers). He likes that it screws up my mom’s credit, and that at ANY time, he can make me come back. </p>
<p>Thank-you sooo much, everyone!</p>
<p>Also… hypothetically - what happens if I don’t list him on the forms?
I mean, really, how I am supposed to list his income when we don’t communicate, and I don’t have a way to get ahold of him (at this point, he doesn’t respond to emails)?</p>
<p>If your mom is sending him child support, she has his address. Certified mail/return receipt requested would be the way to contact him…with a signature of receipt.</p>
<p>You do NOT NEED to put your dad on the FAFSA. Of the 300 Profile schools, only about 1/2 require the non-custodial parent info.</p>
<p>SO…apply to FAFSA only schools. Or look for Profile schools that do not require the non-custodial parent information.</p>
<p>What is your home state?</p>
<p>Be sure to apply to a couple of financial safety schools and some schools that will give you big merit for your stats… </p>
<p>FAFSA-only schools won’t need your dad’s info, but some also don’t give good aid. However, some states have generous state aid to supplement fed aid.</p>
<p>What is your actual ACT and/or SAT score?</p>
<p>Another thing to remember…in most cases (dependent on the state and the divorce agreement), child support ends when a child turns 18. SO…if your mom is sending “child support” to your dad for you…find out when this will end. Perhaps these child support monies can be diverted to fund part of your college costs.</p>
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<p>She may not have his address. It is not uncommon for the payer to have to send the child support to the court, where it is then dispersed to the payee. Many years ago when I did receive support, it was done like that. I couldn’t have told you if my childs father was in the same town as I was or half way around the world.</p>
<p>GA, I agree with your above post…but the idea is that the father’s location is known and this student should be able to appeal to someone (the courts??) to forward the info if necessary.</p>
<p>However…if it IS a huge issue…go FAFSA only…or Profile schools that do not require the non-custodial parent form. Then the father will not have to put his info on the forms.</p>
<p>Not directly related, but I’m surprised that your mom doesn’t simply file a petition with family court to modify the support order…it really doesn’t require an attorney as long as she’s willing to call the court clerk for the required documents, fill out a few simple forms, and appear on her own behalf in family court. I’ve done this several times and it was a very simple process. I’d modify the custody arrangement at the same time! You seem to be mature enough that the court would likely grant custody to whichever parent you prefer to reside with.</p>
<p>The bottom line is the father would count at the schools most kids on CC want. We say only a few Profile schools want non custodial parent info, but almost of of the top colleges do and the Profile schools that don’t require it don’t meet need in the vast, vast majority of cases.</p>
<p>It’s also important for students here to understand there are many parents who won’t pay for the college of their choice. Having a crummy relationship with a parent is not a reason most colleges will consider.</p>