fafsa - separated stepparent question

Paying for College
1

<p>Hi,</p>

<p>I haven’t seen this scenario addressed anywhere so I thought I’d give it a shot. My bio parents are divorced and I live with mom. Mom remarried 3 years ago, but is now separated from my step-dad. It’s not a ‘legal’ separation, in that they did not go to court, but they do not live together or file taxes together. My stepdad lives in his own house. They have no joint accounts and do not interact financially in any way with each other.</p>

<p>I’m thinking I would enter my parents status as separated? Is this correct…even though they do not have a legal designation. I understand that stepparents are treated as bio parents, so if my bio parents were separated I’d choose separated. I’m assuming that would be the same with my mom and stepdad. Am I right?</p>

2

<p>You enter your parents status as divorced. If your step father no longer lives in the house I don’t think he comes into play at all on any forms.</p>

3

<p>Are their 2009 taxes filed jointly?</p>

<p>Is separated a choice on the form or is it divorced?</p>

4

<p>They did not file a 2009 joint return. I think separated is a choice.</p>

5

<p>Your situation sounds like a divorced/separated situation. If you are verified, it’s possible that an aid officer might ask for a signed statement regarding the separation and/or proof of the two separate residences. Then again, you might not be asked for anything in this situation.</p>