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Hello
I am a 21 year old female. My parents have never gotten a divorce, just a really long seperation. I grew up basically in poverty with my mother and I moved out as soon as I graduated high school. I have lived in Rhode Island with my boyfriend for 3 years. My mother has no job, no money and lives in a rooming house. My father earns about 35,000 a year but does not provide me financial support(with the exception of a $4000 car 2 years ago) and has never paid child support - he also does not have a great history when it comes to paying taxes. I have about $5000 of debt from medical and dental bills. I pay for everything in my life and have since I was about 16(My mother was provided with public housing until I graduated). Does it sound like I have a case to be considered Independent? (It will be hard/impossible to get information such as tax records from either of my parents.) thanks.
-nicole

By Emeraldkity4 (Emeraldkity4) on Saturday, June 21, 2003 - 06:54 pm: Edit

If you can show that you have been supporting yourself( rental agreements- W2's, medical bills etc) I would think that financial aid offices, especially those of private schools will consider you independent.