<p>We were divorced in 2002 with shared custody and child support payments going to Mom.</p>
<p>My son moved between homes but with Mom the majority of the week while Dad away at work.</p>
<p>When my son was a Sophomore in high school we changed to a quasi nesting arrangement where child remains at a single home (Dads) and parents come and go. I continued child support payments and Mom takes tax deduction The child support money (and tax savings) is used for groceries (M-Th), clothing, and expenses and exceeds what Dad pays directly for child. It’s also impacting Dads ability to save for college. Mom is with child after school helping with home work and preparing meals at Dads house (Mon-Thur). Dad is away until bedtime (Mon-Thu) and with child on weekends (Fri-Sun). </p>
<p>My question is who fills out the FAFSA? If we hadn’t changed to the nesting arrangement, I would think Mom but under this new arrangement I’m not sure. Any advise?</p>
<p>When a parent is with both parents equally, then the parent who provides the most support is the one who files FAFSA.</p>
<p>HOwever, if your child is applying to CSS profile schools, some of those require the info of BOTH parents. </p>
<p>If the income of each parent is decent, it may not make a lot of difference for FAFSA anyway if the EFC is beyond Pell Grants and such. FAFSA only schools often don’t give much in aid beyond federal aid.</p>
<p>Thanks for the replies. This is where I get hung up, my son is with his Mom more than me - it’s not equal (Mon-Thur all I do is sleep at my house). Also, if it comes down to financial support, does the child support money paid to Mom count as her money?</p>
<p>If he is with physically with Mom more than you, then she would be the one. Yes, the child support does count as untaxed income. However, if it will be ending once the child graduates, she can request a professional judgement to have the income that is ending removed from FAFSA</p>
<p>mom2collegekids When a parent is with both parents equally, then the parent who provides the most support is the one who files FAFSA.</p>
<p>HOwever, if your child is applying to CSS profile schools, some of those require the info of BOTH parents. </p>
<p>If the income of each parent is decent, it may not make a lot of difference for FAFSA anyway if the EFC is beyond Pell Grants and such. FAFSA only schools often don’t give much in aid beyond federal aid. </p>
<p>Hi. How do you find out if the school your child is applying to is a CSS profile school?
I just found out from reading here that CSS schools usually have high tuition and the school my child is applying ED is $51K.
Thank you.</p>
<p>*This is where I get hung up, my son is with his Mom more than me - it’s not equal (Mon-Thur all I do is sleep at my house). *</p>
<p>Can you clarify?</p>
<p>Is everyone living in the same house now? It sounds like the son lives in your house 24/7. </p>
<p>Where does mom live? Does she live elsewhere and stays with child after school until you get home? And, then you’re with child from that time til the next morning?</p>
<p>I think you are the custodial parent if the child is living at your home and the mom is just coming in to babysit (so to speak).</p>
<p>Mom lives a few miles away and we’re sharing my house Mon-Thur. I leave the house at 6AM for work and return around 9-9:30PM (more recently I’ve been staying at hotels closer to work to cut down on commuting time). When I’m home Mon-Thur I spend an hour with my son and then I’m off to sleep. Fri-Sun I’m with my son. </p>
<p>When we agreed to the arrangement my thoughts were “sure, it would be good if <my son=”“> didn’t have to shuffle between houses and I’m not at my house much anyway”. Though I can’t help but feel I’ve jeopardized something by sharing my house and continuing child support payments (which could have been going to a college fund).</my></p>
<p>Perhaps I’m getting too wound up over FAFSA and EFC (I’m new to this). Thanks all for the CSS profile information, I’ll look into that as well.</p>
<p>Since your son physically resides at your address and you are supplying most/all of his support, I’d say that you are the custodial parent. It sounds as if Mom is really a guest in your home…it’s doubtful your junior/senior son actually needs a parent to help with homework or sit with him until you arrive, although it’s nice that one is always available! If you haven’t been able to save for college be sure to let your child know that he needs to start his search early and what you (and Mom) will be able to contribute per year through current income and/or parent loans.</p>
<p>Then remember, many/most FAFSA only schools do not meet full need. I think the EFC has to be below $5000 to qualify for any Pell grant. You may check on any state grants, but other than that the aid is usually loans.</p>
<p>Some smaller, less famous privates do offer merit aid for GPA/SAT score, but they are also starting at a higher price so are likely to bring you into the same total as your state flagship.</p>
<p>If the school requires Profile, then both your info will be included.</p>
<p>Another consideration is what things look like in future years. If you change the entire arrangement once DS goes off to university, but sure to consider what things will look like in subsequent years.</p>
<p>Really very few people benefit from jumping through the hoops to change things, shield assets, etc. Unless you were high income and accumulated assets, but they had a dramatic income drop, such that your income now allows you to receive grant aid, yet your assets might preclude that, there is not a great benefit to restructuring your life. Most of the financial aid formula is income based.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone for the great information and spending your valuable time. Seems like the right thing to do is for me to file the FAFSA (which I’m planning to do).</p>
<p>You should check the financial aid websites of EACH school to see what the schools require for financial aid application information. The link to the college board is sometimes not up to date for schools who have either added or deleted this requirement (been there done that parent saying that). </p>
<p>PLUS you need to know the requirements and DEADLINES for each school…and those are on the individual school websites ONLY (yes you can find them elsewhere…but again…accuracy is important and the school itself will give you the best info).</p>
<p>Re: costs…the cost of attendance including tuition/room/board/fees/expenses can be found on EVERY college website as well. This is important information for you to have especially if finances will impact your student’s college choice.</p>
<p>NOW back to the OP…YOU also need to check each school’s financial aid application requirements. If your child’s school requires the CSS Profile OR they have their own financial application form, BOTH parents could well have to report anyway…and you will have fretted over nothing.</p>
<p>AND remember that the FAFSA is primarily used to determine eligibility for federally funded need based aid…the max Pell Grant is $5500. Some schools have SEOG, work study, and then loans. If you are lower income, your student might qualify for these but if not, you could be spinning your wheels over a situation that really won’t matter anyway when the numbers are run.</p>
<p>*How do you find out if the school your child is applying to is a CSS profile school?
I just found out from reading here that CSS schools usually have high tuition and the school my child is applying ED is $51K. *</p>
<p>Some schools also have their OWN forms to fill out for aid…so check that as well. </p>
<p>Also, check to see if they require NCP info. Some schools require the CSS Profile NCP form…and some have their own NCP form…so it can be complicated, so pay attention to details.</p>
<p>I’m surprised that you’re letting your child apply ED when you’re not sure how you’re going to pay for college. Don’t you want to be able to compare offers?</p>
<p>Anyway, as backups, be SURE to have your child apply to some schools that award **ASSURED **large scholarships for high stats as well. Those schools often have EARLY deadlines for scholarships (like Dec 1st or earlier). That way, you’ll at least have those offers to compare with your ED offer. Don’t wait til after you get the ED results to pursue these options. it will be too late at that point.</p>
<p>Again…rely on the info that is posted on each SCHOOL’s website. The link to the college board above has been known to have inaccuracies in it (schools listed that no longer require the Profile, schools NOT listed that do).</p>
<p>Every college website will provide you with that info. If they require the Profile, the school code will also be listed on the website. This is different for every school.</p>