Recently Elizabeth Spiers of Slate.com asked me to comment on one of their readers’ questions on divorced parents, college financial aid, & FAFSA. This advice also applies to step-parents, domestic partners, and others that want to help with the cost of education or don’t know to what extent they are responsible.
Parents in this scenario do have options to better their odds in obtaining more financial aid for the student’s education. Many factors come into play in various situations. Parents need to be savvy and proactive in pursuing college financial aid, especially in this example. How the school will assess the family’s information will differ from college to college. What form(s) is the college requiring? FAFSA or the CSS Profile? If Profile, many will require an additional form called the Non-Custodial Parent. In my opinion, this form is unfair for several reasons. For example, if the ex is remarried, now the system (colleges) is trying to assess three parents instead of two. How about if both parents are remarried? Yes, now they want four parents’ information.
If you have questions about divorced parents, college financial aid, FAFSA, would like more information or clarification, please contact our staff.
Slate.com Article
I’m Worried the Government Will Force Me to Pay for My Stepkids’ College
https://slate.com/business/2022/02/advice-for-step-parenting-how-to-handle-fafsa-when-youre-about-to-divorce.html
