<p>We have a relative living with us and attending high school. This is because his father, who is from another country, has refused to educate him and his mother (our relative), sent him to live with us before she passed away. We were told in a financial aid seminar that his father’s assets would be counted in figuring any financial aid offer and if his father refused to fill out the paperwork (likely), he would get none. We can’t afford to send him to college. Has anybody dealt with a similar situation? Can you offer advice? What do students with uncooperative parents do?</p>
<p>Have you been appointed his guardians by a court? That would make a difference.</p>
<p>If you have been made guardian, it will be your finances that are used for FA. You have been very generous to raise this relative for your deceased family member. It is sad and unfortunate that this child’s father does not see the value of his son’s education. However, each person is born into their circumstances, and it is not a God given right to a college education for all. If you can help, great. If you can’t, you have already given this child more than he would have had in his own family. He will have to work and then educate himself slowly if that is what he desires. I commend you for caring so much, but it isn’t your responsibility. Lots of kids with uncooperative parents have to fend for themselves. I think it probably makes them stronger and more appreciative of their education than kids whose parents handle it all for them. There is nothing wrong with using blood, sweat, and tears to get where you want to be in life.</p>
<p>If you have been made his legal guardian, then he will be considered independent for FA purposes when he turns 18. Your assets would not be considered nor would his dad’s.</p>
<p>However, if his dad still have legal rights, then the dad’s info would be needed.</p>
<p>BTW…is this child a US citizen or green card resident? If not, that’s another issue.</p>
<p>Mom2collegekids, I know of a student whose guardian had to supply their financial info, even though the guardian was not expecting to give any college funding. Some schools will ask for this. (Maybe just profile schools?)</p>
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<p>If the student spends even one day in US court appointed legal guardianship, s/he is independent for federal aid. In the overwhelming majority of cases, student would be considered independent for institutional aid. If student is a US citizen, they can fill out the fafsa and click the box that parent is unwilling to supply financial information. This way he would be eligible for unsub loan of $4000 (which may be workable for community college).</p>
<p>Teachandmom did your student identify on the profile that s/he was in court appointed legal guardianship? Some schools may ask for guardian’s information to see to what extend they are supporting the child. For example; did guardians purchase student a car/pay for private lesson/private school etc. If the school requested an IDOC, did s/he also include a copy of the court papers?</p>
<p>I’ve only heard of one instance where a CSS school used guardian info to determine aid since guardians don’t have any financial responsibility after age 18. And in that one case, the income wasn’t looked at in the same way as a parent income. I highly doubt that a CSSS school would expect an aunt or older sibling guardian to provide for college.</p>
<p>The only college I know requests info from guardians is Bates.</p>
<p>Sybbie is absolutely correct.</p>
<p>However, the OP needs to clarify if this student actually is in legal guardianship. The OP did not make it sound as if this is the case. If the student is not in guardianship, then the father’s info would be required.</p>
<p>Is he a U.S. citizen? How long has this student been estranged from his father?</p>
<p>A student has to be in a legal guardianship until his 18th birthday to be considered independent - if he is in foster care or a ward of the court for even one day after the age of 13, it is then that he is automatically independent.</p>
<p>Legal guardianship in this instance is NOT the guardianship that parents living out of the country often give to relatives in the states who are taking care of their child. The only guardianship that counts is this: Are you or were you in legal guardianship as determined by a court in your state of legal residence? Then it is further required that “in legal guardianship or was when he reached the age of majority in his state.”</p>
<p>they can fill out the fafsa and click the box that parent is unwilling to supply financial information. This way he would be eligible for unsub loan of $4000 (which may be workable for community college)</p>
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<p>Even if the box is clicked, the student does not automatically get the unsub … the parent is required to certify that he refuses to support the child and will not do so in any manner (including giving money, providing insurance, providing shelter, etc). We had one in the two years it was allowed while I worked in finaid.</p>
<p>Are we even sure if this student is a US citizen or Green card resident? It’s hard to tell if that child was born elsewhere and then sent to the US??? or maybe has US citizenship if his mom was a citizen???</p>
<p>So sorry to not give enough information. Father refused to free him for adoption, he has dual citizenship since mom was a US citizen. We don’t have any permanent legal relationship just functioning in loco parentis.</p>
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<p>That being the case, he will have to provide his father’s information on the financial aid form(s).</p>
<p>Might be worth seeing what can happen legally in terms of guardianship.</p>