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Student lives with retired grandparents, always has. However, his mom has legal custody, but her husband (student's stepdad) does not (or does he, because he's married to student's mom?). Whose income counts for FAFSA?

By Meganc123 (Meganc123) on Sunday, August 29, 2004 - 03:26 pm: Edit

BUMP

By Thumper1 (Thumper1) on Sunday, August 29, 2004 - 09:35 pm: Edit

Yours is a tough question. On the FAFSA it us usually the parent with legal custody (I don't think the FAFSA deals with who a child resides with...just legal custody, but I could be wrong on this one). In the case of parents who are remarried, their spouse's income is considered as well. It is expected FAMILY contribution. The assumption is that income generated into the family by a step parent would be included in the family income. HOWEVER, if there are extenuating circumstances these should be conveyed to the finaid office. For example, who declares your friend as a dependent for tax purposes grandparents or legal custody mom? If this friend has no contact with his mom and family this would be different than if he is living with grandparents for some other reason. If mom has not contributed financially to this guy that is different than if his mom is paying his support but he is residing with his grandparents. If his grandparents are his sole support, this should be conveyed to the finaid office in a letter. AND your friend should contact the finaid office(s) regarding his situation.

By Jenniferpa (Jenniferpa) on Sunday, August 29, 2004 - 11:08 pm: Edit

Actually, according to the PR's Paying for college, it is the parent with whom the child resides for the major portion of the year who is considered the primary custodial parent. It has nothing to do with who has legal custody. I have no idea what the situation is if neither parent has physical custody. Jamimom might know, as I believe she has had custody of a least one child from a sibling.

By Icarus (Icarus) on Friday, September 03, 2004 - 04:59 am: Edit

There should be no issue of legal custody here. If you are 18, as most people are going off to college, you are a legal adult and neither parent has legal custody - it is a moot point. Therefore, it is whoever you live with most that gets declared on FAFSA.

By Garland (Garland) on Friday, September 03, 2004 - 10:17 am: Edit

http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/preappwk45.pdf


See the box labeled "who is considered a parent?" about halfway through the document. Note the line about grandparents or legal guardians not counting. It's the parent who last gave support, or that you lived with last, and that parent's spouse.

By Meganc123 (Meganc123) on Friday, September 03, 2004 - 12:35 pm: Edit

Garland- That was exactly the type of official source I was looking for. THANKS!!!!!