Divorced Parents and FAFSA

Summary

How to fill out a FAFSA when the student's parents are divorced 

Overview

If your parents are separated or divorced, the "custodial parent" is responsible for filling out the FAFSA. The custodial parent is the parent you lived with the most during the past 12 months.

This is not necessarily the same as the parent who has legal custody. If you did not live with one parent more than the other, the parent who provided you with the most financial support during the past 12 months should fill out the FAFSA. This is probably the parent who claimed you as a dependent on their tax return. If you haven't received any support from either parent during the past 12 months, use the most recent calendar year for which you received some support from a parent.

Biological parents who never married are treated the same as parents who are divorced.

Additional Questions

More information about this can be found at studentaid.gov on the Reporting Parent Information page. For any additional questions, you'll need to contact the Financial Aid Office directly.