<p>I am putting my personal information into the application, and I was wondering. If I you have no legal guardian, but live with a family member do you have to take on their income. My single mother recently passed away and I am living with my aunt. I am trying to get qualified for a fee waiver, but the only options are ward of the court and Independent with spouse. I am neither. Do you have to get a court order to becom ward of the court?</p>
<p>Are you 18 yet? If you are, I believe you may not be eligible for becoming a ward of the court. About asking for a fee waiver, you should call admission offices and explain your situation. I am pretty sure you would qualify for financial aid as well.</p>
<p>I am not yet 18 years old. I was just really wondering if there has to be a court order for you to be declared ward of the court?</p>
<p>Jumaadj:</p>
<p>I am not a lawyer, so I don’t know what it takes to be declared a ward of the court. BUT, I am confident that if you explained that you are orphaned and are living with your aunt, the adcoms would waive the fee waiver and might be able to tell you what is needed to apply for financial aid. I doubt very much that your aunt would be required to support you, but she might have to sign an affidavit explaining her relationship to you. So email admission officers right away and pose your question. I am sure they will be more than willing to assist you.</p>
<p>I’m pretty sure the court would have to have a formal proceeeding declaring you to be a ward of the court. If you aunt is supporting you, and taking you off on her taxes as a dependant, I would think that your financial aid application would have to consider her income. Your guidance counselor may be able to help you figure out what to do, or point you in the correct direction. Also, ask the financial aid office at the colleges are you considering. Good luck with your applications!</p>
<p>I am acting as a dependent of my aunt for the time being, however I have no legal guardian and I hope I can be considered independent. I am taking all your advice on the situation and am going to ask my councelor tommorrow. Thanks.</p>
<p>My condolences on the loss of your mother.<br>
You may want to try contacting your State Senator or Delegate to find out if there are any programs for which you qualify. Also, check to see if your state has a Scholarship Administration and contact them.</p>
<p>JUMAADJ - from a personal experience that I happen to be aware of that is similar to yours - you are considered an orphan - and it sounds as tho your aunt is - in a way - a temporary guardian - at least until you are 18 - tho it does not sound as tho there was any thing legally done to make her your legal guardian - I would certainly wonder if you are legally considered her dependant - even tho you are living with her.</p>
<p>Being considered legally an orphan you should have NO problem getting application waivers - by calling the school you want to apply to and talking to an admissions officer - they can automatically grant a waiver - this may also mean that you may need to do your applications on paper - ask about that. You will also find that there is alot of financial aid/scholarships available for your situation. You will need to also ask the schools specifically what type of paperwork they may require for consideration with your application and for any financial aid you may qualify for.</p>
<p>These are special circumstances for you - I am so sorry to hear about your mom - but I am certain that schools will be sensitive to your situation and assist you in any way that they can. It appears that you may be considered an Independant because of your orphan status as well - which opens up alot of doors for you financially.</p>
<p>Go directly for the source for this information. Doing a search at the Federal Financial Aid portal (studentaid.ed.gov) turned up tons of information on this. The two most important ones are:
<a href=“http://ifap.ed.gov/sfahandbooks/attachments/sech6-app.pdf[/url]”>http://ifap.ed.gov/sfahandbooks/attachments/sech6-app.pdf</a></p>
<p><a href=“http://ifap.ed.gov/sfahandbooks/attachments/updt%20efc%20formula00-01.pdf[/url]”>http://ifap.ed.gov/sfahandbooks/attachments/updt%20efc%20formula00-01.pdf</a></p>
<p>According to the above federal regulations, you are considered an orphan if both parents are dead and you have not been adopted, even if you have a legal guardian. As an orphan, only your income (or lack thereof) will be considered when computing your EFC. </p>
<p>The two above links are pretty easy to understand, but also go to the main site I listed above and look for the handbook of student financial aid, which explains things in a little less technical way. Also do a search on that site for the word “orphan” and you’ll find everything you need to know about financial aid as an orphan.</p>
<p>Good luck, and my condolences as well on the loss of your mom.</p>
<p>Here are a few other resources that you might find useful.</p>
<p>The orphan foundation of America: <a href=“http://www.orphan.org/index.html[/url]”>http://www.orphan.org/index.html</a> Provides counseling and some scholarships. Geared at kids coming out of foster care, but their student pages looks like they have some Fin. Aid info. that might apply.</p>
<p>College Goal Sunday is a program where college financial aid officers help students and parents put together their financial aid application paperwork. It’s usually held during Superbowl weekend. </p>
<p>You can find information about College Goal Sunday, plus lots of other very useful resources on applying for financial aid at the Student portal run by the National Association of Financial Aid Administrators: <a href=“http://www.studentaid.org/[/url]”>http://www.studentaid.org/</a></p>
<p>hope this helps!</p>
<p>Thanks alot everyone who posted on my thread. I really appreciate the help and the time and it wont go to waste. About the orphan thing, my father is not dead but out of the picture, I think that would be under the same circumstances though. I am going to call the office before I finish my application. Im on the last part that says EOP/Fee Waiver.</p>
<p>JUMAADJ - please come back and let us know how you make out with all of this - and best of luck to you.</p>
<p>I am making really good progress but still not completely satisfied with the resposes I was given.</p>
<p>One of the colleges gave me this response : </p>
<p>"You can try filling out the fee waiver with either of the scenarios you
named and more than likely, the fee waiver request will be denied. You
can submit the application saying you are paying by check, then send me
an email with your full name and mailing address and I will send you a
paper fee waiver request that you can submit with a statement about
your
situation. The question that needs to be answered is: Will your aunt
be helping you with school expenses? If so, then you will need to list
her income on the form. "</p>
<p>Financial Aid this one:
"Most federal student aid is awarded based on financial need. All
need-based
federal student aid programs are administered on the premise that a
student
and his or her family have primary responsibility for paying for the
student’s postsecondary education. Federal aid is intended to meet only
those education costs that remain after the student’s resources and an
expected contribution from the dependent student’s parents have been
taken
into account.</p>
<p>U.S. Department of Education regulations define “parent” as one’s
natural or
adoptive mother or father. A relative (for example, a grandparent,
aunt,
cousin, sister or brother) or a nonrelative is not defined as a parent
unless that person has legally adopted the student."</p>
<p>My councelor is unsure and my aunt is asking around there are a couple of other responses but they all are saying the same as these.</p>
<p>JUMAADJ - well - it sure looks as the the USDE has you defined with out a parent - since your aunt has not legally adopted you - so that is in your favor.</p>
<p>Will your aunt be helping you with college expenses?? Not likely - so the One thing she can do tho is - without being considered your parent - is to be co-signer on student loans that will require one.</p>
<p>When your financial aid stuff is done - FAFSA - you will be doing only your part most likely - as you have no legal parent to do the other piece - as you are considered an independant - so the family contribution will be base only on you - not a family income.</p>
<p>Is there any way you could contact FAFSA and ask your questions?? check the web site and see if they have a number or email - so you can get the answers from the hourses mouth - so to speak.</p>
<p>Good luck and keep us updated</p>
<p>Hi Jumaad,</p>
<p>My condolences on the loss of your mother. Your GC should be able to atleast provide you with atleast 4 fee waviers for school.</p>
<p>I agree with Jeepmom that while your aunt is your guardian, she her income will not be used in calculating your FA. </p>
<p>Since your father is not in your life, you will have to find out which colleges will require information from the non-custodial parent and what you need to apply for a non-custodial waiver.</p>
<p>all the best</p>
<p>I have just become even more confused. I asked a representative from a csu today about the whole situation, and she said I will still act as a dependent because there has to be a court order declaring me independent. This is very confusing becuase my aunt has no legal custody over me., how can I be her dependent? I hate recieving mixed answers. If I dont find out in the next two days im going to give up researching and go with her reply. :(</p>
<p>Jumaadj:</p>
<p>I sympathize with your frustration. I somehow doubt that the rep is the authority on this issue. I suggest that you email an admission office at a csu to which you wish to apply and pose your question. It will give the staff time to research the question instead of giving you off-the cuff answers. If you still have questions after you receive a reply, you can follow up with the written reply you will have received. In complex situations such as these, it is best to have a paper trail, and names attached to questions and answers.</p>
<p>I can’t refer you to any websites, but I was an “emancipated minor” when I was 19 due to the deaths of both parents - this was over 20 years ago and things may have changed. I don’t know if each state has a different process they follow but your guidance counselor and the financial aid offices at schools you’re looking at should be able to help you. Good luck.</p>
<p>Actually the ‘‘emancipated minor’’ may be the answer JUMAADJ - you - and your - may want to talk to an attorney - or inquire at the court house - on how this can be established - it takes a hearing to be declared emancipated - and will provide you the documentation that states so - and also gives you legal standing in this situation - you are NOT a legal dependant of your aunt - you are actually in limbo at this point. Just an idea</p>
<p>Jumaadj:</p>
<p>In your correspondence with financial aid officers at csus, use the quote you posted from the DOE:</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>The fee waiver is a small part of the larger issue, which is financial aid.
Explain that your aunt has taken you in <em>temporarily</em> only and is not your legal guardian. Your aunt cannot be expected to contribute to your education, nor is she in a position to do so. Perhaps somebody will be able to give your more definite answers and help guide you through the process. Good luck!</p>