Filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) can be confusing enough for parents who file jointly.
But the guidelines for filing the FAFSA in the case of a student who has two households are clearer than you might think.
So, who must file the FAFSA in the case of divorce or separation? And what if there’s a stepparent in the picture or two?
Determine Who’s the Custodial Parent
If your parents are divorced, separated, or were never married, you must determine who’s the custodial parent to use solely on the FAFSA form — the parent you lived with more than 50% of the time in the past year.
If your time is evenly split between the two households, you should use the parent who provided more of the financial support.
When filing, any child support given that year to the custodial parent must be listed.
It’s also important to note that the parent who has “legal custody” isn’t the custodial parent. The status of custodial parent is determined based on your living situation and which parent provides the most financial support.
None of this means that in the future the same parent will always fill out the FAFSA. When filing the FAFSA each year, you will need to take into consideration which parent may be considered the custodial parent that year.
Just know that when the custodial parent changes, this could alter the amount of funding you receive.
What About Stepparents or Common-law Spouses?
If the custodial parent is remarried or has a significant other that could be labelled as a common-law spouse, the significant other’s information needs to be included on the FAFSA.
A common-law spouse is essentially a legally recognized marriage without purchasing a marriage license or having a ceremony. In some states, living together for a set period of time could afford marital rights. But it’s a good idea to check your state’s laws on common-law spouses to be sure.
Also, if the custodial parent is living with a significant other but they are not legally married or considered common-law spouses, you may still have to list any contributions made by this spouse, including rent or utilities. These can be listed as nontaxable income.
Need Help Filling Out the FAFSA?
This may seem like a daunting task, but the Financial Aid King is here to help you in your time of need!
Read our helpful guide on filing the FAFSA to learn step-by-step instructions for how to fill it out correctly.
