FAFSA and non-custodial parent v custodial parent

[Frye7127]

My DH has a 19 year old daughter that is in college for her first year. They have joint custody, but her primary residence is with her mother. So far, we have paid everything for college. Her mother just had DD call to see if we were going to file her on our taxes since we have paid for everything (first time ever asking if we wanted to file her even though we have mainly paid for everything in her life). My question is if we file her on our taxes, do we have to fill out FAFSA or can her mother still fill it out? She will get more grant/scholarship $ if her mom does it. It would be nice to get a little bit of a tax break for once.

 

[ZPT1022]

maybe try asking on the budget board?? Good luck

 

[Darcy03231]

If she lives primarily with Mom, Mom should fill it out, even if you claim her as a dependent. We ran into this with DH's two children from a previous marriage. They lived with us primarily so we had to fill out the FAFSA no matter who claimed them. As long as both were dependents we claimed one and DH's ex-wife claimed one. Once therewas only one dependent we alternated. According to the financial aid office it didn't matter who claimed the dependency deduction, it was who they lived with primarily.

 

[golfgal]

The one's that give her the most support are the one's who are supposed to file the Financial Aid form. Technically you should be if you provide more then 50% of her support-home, food, etc. If you are the ones that she has to file under I would think you should get the tax deduction too. I would say that the Financial Aid department would look extra hard if you claim her as a deduction and her mom files the form though.

 

[punkin]

You should really call her school financial aid office and see what they say.

 

[Mermaid02]

They told us when we went for a informational meeting (dd's junior year) that only the parent who the child LIVED with had to be on the FAFSA....

 

[Mermaid02]

You should really call her school financial aid office and see what they say.

 

[Frye7127]

thanks! I didn't even think about calling the financial aid office. It would be nice to have the break for a change, but we definitely want her mom to fill out the FAFSA. Any other input would be appreciated. in the meantime, i will check with financial aid for next year. FAFSA has to be filled out this weekend?! At least that is what her mom says and she was having her taxes done today, so I had to make a snap decision. Maybe she can use some of her refund to pay some of her part of what we have already paid for. that would be nice.

 

[bumbershoot]

FAFSA website.

If your parents are divorced or separated, provide information for your “custodial” parent. The custodial parent is the parent with whom you lived most during the previous 12 months. If your parents have joint custody and you lived with each for the same amount of time during the prior year, then include the information for the parent who provided the most financial support to you.

There ya go.

 

[xCourxCorex]

thanks! I didn't even think about calling the financial aid office. It would be nice to have the break for a change, but we definitely want her mom to fill out the FAFSA. Any other input would be appreciated. in the meantime, i will check with financial aid for next year. FAFSA has to be filled out this weekend?! At least that is what her mom says and she was having her taxes done today, so I had to make a snap decision. Maybe she can use some of her refund to pay some of her part of what we have already paid for. that would be nice.

FAFSA deadlines are different for every state, and school. While I have heard of early ones, mid-February is really kind of rushing it. My "priority filing" deadline isn't til mid-April. Again, you might want to contact someone at the school and ask. It's probably on their website too