If I student’s, who lives in the state of North Carolina, fafsa has been selected for verification and the parents are separated, is a notarized legal separation agreement sufficient, or does it have to filed with the register of deeds?
Ask that specific college or university about documentation. They will be able to tell you what is acceptable.
For FAFSA, the couple has to be separated, not living in the same household. Many people do nothing official, don’t life papers at all. They might even continue to file taxes together, but then they won’t be able to use the DRT on the FAFSA.
If the college is questioning it, a separation agreement should be good. Also acceptable may be proof of separate households (separate leases, addresses on bills/ID).