Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Geez there has to be some way they account for kids whose noncustodial parent is a complete jerk and won’t pay anything. It’s not all that uncommon!

They make it harder because a lot of people would try to abuse the system if they made it easy to say the noncustodial parent will not contribute to the student's college tuition.

It is already true in most states that noncustodial parents have no obligation to pay for college. Some people write that into the separation agreement but it is not required.

Custodial parents haven't got a legal obligation to pay college tuition either, it is just an assumption by the financial aid office that they will.

+1

And if they won't and the student can prove that they receive no financial support from mom and dad they will be judged eligible for financial aid on the basis of their finances alone. The catch is that they child would have to live independently or pay rent to parents and not receive other material support such as being on parents health insurance or even cell phone accounts.

People aren't entitled to a college education in this country, and it is a student's responsibility to fund it. Of course that task generally falls to the parent.

Anonymous wrote:So why aren't all college bound students considered independent because in reality, their parents are under no obligation to pay for anything at all?

Because colleges can do what they want to do when they are handing out their money.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Geez there has to be some way they account for kids whose noncustodial parent is a complete jerk and won’t pay anything. It’s not all that uncommon!

They make it harder because a lot of people would try to abuse the system if they made it easy to say the noncustodial parent will not contribute to the student's college tuition.

It is already true in most states that noncustodial parents have no obligation to pay for college. Some people write that into the separation agreement but it is not required.

Custodial parents haven't got a legal obligation to pay college tuition either, it is just an assumption by the financial aid office that they will.

+1

This is sad. Imagine how the lack of responsibility and generosity damages a child's self-esteem.

Anonymous wrote:So my ex and I haven’t spoken in years. He also hasn’t spoken to our DD in years. He is married and has four young kids. I will ask him to fill out the FA forms for college for our 16 yr old daughter but I doubt he will. If he can’t call or text, I doubt he will take the time to fill out paperwork. He pays child support but has owed money for years. He never pays on time and rarely pays the full amount. I feel horribly that his indifference might limit our daughter’s choices. Is there anything I can do?

Well, first thing you do is sue him for back support. If it proceeds and you win, you put that toward your daughter's college. Or, if you want, after you file you can agree to drop the claim in return for his complete cooperation, for all your daughter's years in college, filing out the required forms.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, your child will need to call the Admissions Office of each college where she is applying and ask for their Non-Custodial Parent Waiver Form. The waiver is much more likely to be approved if there really is no contact and no financial support, but even if your situation is more murky, fill out the form and apply to the schools.

She said that he pays child support. That is by definition financial support even if the payment is late or irregular.

My ex will stop paying support about four months before dad graduates and at least 6.5 months before she ever attends college. Why would the school assume he’d keep up support?

It would be such a perk for divorced couples to only have to include 1 income..

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, your child will need to call the Admissions Office of each college where she is applying and ask for their Non-Custodial Parent Waiver Form. The waiver is much more likely to be approved if there really is no contact and no financial support, but even if your situation is more murky, fill out the form and apply to the schools.

She said that he pays child support. That is by definition financial support even if the payment is late or irregular.

My ex will stop paying support about four months before dad graduates and at least 6.5 months before she ever attends college. Why would the school assume he’d keep up support?

He pays child support because an immigration laws told him he has to be up to date on it in order to apply for citizenship. He doesn’t want to be unable to renew his green card or he will have to return to Mexico. That is the only reason he pays. Sad but true. He has asked more than once when he doesn’t have to pay anymore. He has zero intention of paying for anything past age 17. He actually doesn’t make much money anyway but he will most likely refute fill out the forms because he doesn’t do anything unless it directly benefits him.

Anonymous wrote:OP, your child will need to call the Admissions Office of each college where she is applying and ask for their Non-Custodial Parent Waiver Form. The waiver is much more likely to be approved if there really is no contact and no financial support, but even if your situation is more murky, fill out the form and apply to the schools.

She said that he pays child support. That is by definition financial support even if the payment is late or irregular.

OP, your child will need to call the Admissions Office of each college where she is applying and ask for their Non-Custodial Parent Waiver Form. The waiver is much more likely to be approved if there really is no contact and no financial support, but even if your situation is more murky, fill out the form and apply to the schools.

So why aren't all college bound students considered independent because in reality, their parents are under no obligation to pay for anything at all?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Geez there has to be some way they account for kids whose noncustodial parent is a complete jerk and won’t pay anything. It’s not all that uncommon!

They make it harder because a lot of people would try to abuse the system if they made it easy to say the noncustodial parent will not contribute to the student's college tuition.

It is already true in most states that noncustodial parents have no obligation to pay for college. Some people write that into the separation agreement but it is not required.

Custodial parents haven't got a legal obligation to pay college tuition either, it is just an assumption by the financial aid office that they will.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Geez there has to be some way they account for kids whose noncustodial parent is a complete jerk and won’t pay anything. It’s not all that uncommon!

They make it harder because a lot of people would try to abuse the system if they made it easy to say the noncustodial parent will not contribute to the student's college tuition.

It is already true in most states that noncustodial parents have no obligation to pay for college. Some people write that into the separation agreement but it is not required.

But if the ex is not responsible for child support after age 18, why are schools even asking the non-custodial parent about financial info? He is not obligated to pay a dime for his kid. Not all parents support their kids into adulthood.

Anonymous wrote:You can get a non-custodial waiver so his finances are waived.

This is not possible if the non-custodial parent is paying child support, even if the support is irregular. OP would be best off sticking to schools which use FAFSA only and do not require a CSS profile. The FAFSA does not require non-custodial parent income, only documentation of support received.