Chedva
March 19, 2009, 8:16am
3
<p>No, it’s not OK. “Custodial parent” has a very specific meaning. It is the parent with whom the student lives most of the year (more than 182.5 days). If the physical custody is really split absolutely evenly, it is the parent who contributes more financial support to the student, even if that amount “more” is $1.</p>
<p>
If your parents are separated or divorced, the custodial parent is responsible for filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The custodial parent for federal student aid purposes is the parent with whom you lived the most during the past 12 months. (The twelve month period is the twelve month period ending on the FAFSA application date, not the previous calendar year.) Note that this is not necessarily the same as the parent who has legal custody. If you did not live with one parent more than the other, the parent who provided you with the most financial support during the past twelve months should fill out the FAFSA. This is probably the parent who claimed you as a dependent on their tax return. If you have not received any support from either parent during the past 12 months, use the most recent calendar year for which you received some support from a parent. These rules are based on section 475(f)(1) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 USC 1087oo(f)(1)). </p>
<p>Biological parents who never married are treated the same as parents who are divorced. </p>
<p>Note, however, that any child support and/or alimony received from the non-custodial parent must be included on the FAFSA. </p>
<p>Please note that the discussion given above applies even if the parents each have equal 50% custody. The term “custodial parent” is not synonymous with custody. Usually the parent with whom the student lived the most during the past 12 months is sufficient, since there are an odd number of days in the year. However, in some cases a tie-breaker is needed, such as when the divorce was recent or when there are an even number of days in the year (e.g., a leap year). In such circumstances it is based on whichever parent provided more support. If that is not definitive, then the financial aid administrator at the college will make the decision, and this will usually be based on whichever parent has the greater income. (Some colleges will follow the logic in a multiple support agreement, but they are under no obligation to do so.) </p>
<p>
[FinAid</a> | Answering Your Questions | Divorce and Financial Aid](<a href=“http://www.finaid.org/questions/divorce.phtml]FinAid ”>http://www.finaid.org/questions/divorce.phtml )</p>