I'm so sorry for your loss, Yara. This is such a difficult situation to navigate while you're grieving. The advice everyone has given is spot-on - I just wanted to add that many schools have dedicated staff members who specialize in handling these types of special circumstances cases. When you contact the financial aid offices, ask specifically to speak with someone who handles professional judgment reviews or special circumstances appeals. They tend to be more knowledgeable about the process and can walk you through exactly what documentation they need. Also, if you're working with multiple schools, keep detailed notes about what each one requires since their processes can vary slightly. You're doing everything right by asking these questions and getting prepared early. Hang in there!

I'm so sorry for your loss, Yara. I can't imagine how difficult this must be while you're also trying to navigate these complex financial aid processes. Based on what everyone has shared, it sounds like you have a clear path forward, but I wanted to add one more resource that might help: many colleges have emergency financial aid funds specifically for students whose families have experienced unexpected hardship like this. When you contact the financial aid offices for the professional judgment reviews, ask if they have any emergency grants or hardship funds your son might qualify for while you're waiting for the FAFSA adjustments to be processed. These funds can sometimes provide immediate relief for tuition, housing, or other expenses. Also, don't forget to check if your husband had any life insurance benefits through his employer that might include educational benefits for dependents - some policies have provisions specifically for college expenses that families don't always know about. You're handling this incredibly well given the circumstances.

my dad n i had the same issue last month! the new FAFSA is soooo confusing compared to the old one! also make sure ur daughter does the signature part at the end - we missed that and had to wait another week b4 our application was processed

I'm so glad I found this thread! I'm a new parent going through this process for the first time and was panicking when my son didn't get the email either. It's really frustrating that the FAFSA system makes it seem like the email is required when it's not. For other parents who might be reading this - definitely have your student log in directly with their FSA ID rather than waiting around for emails that may never come. The deadline stress is real! Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences here.

As someone who's been through this process multiple times, I can confirm what others have said - employer retirement plans are excluded regardless of the investment type. The confusion often comes from the FAFSA's wording about "stocks and bonds" but that refers to regular investment accounts, not retirement-designated accounts. One tip: if you're ever unsure about a specific account, look at your tax documents. If it's reported on forms like 1099-R (with retirement distribution codes) or if contributions reduce your taxable income, it's almost certainly a retirement account that shouldn't be reported on FAFSA. Also worth noting - this distinction can make a HUGE difference in your Student Aid Index (SAI). Retirement assets aren't assessed at all, while regular investments are assessed at about 5.6% for parents. So getting this right could potentially save you thousands in expected contributions!

Just wanted to chime in as someone who made this exact mistake two years ago! I included my spouse's employee stock purchase plan (ESPP) that was designated for retirement and it absolutely killed our aid eligibility. Took months to get it corrected through the financial aid office. The way I understand it now: if you can't access the funds without penalties until retirement age AND it's through an employer-sponsored retirement program, don't report it. Period. The fact that it's invested in company stock instead of mutual funds is irrelevant - it's still a qualified retirement plan. For anyone reading this thread who already submitted their FAFSA with retirement assets included, definitely contact your school's financial aid office ASAP about a correction. They can usually help you fix it, and the difference in your aid package could be substantial!

As someone who just started the law school application process myself, this thread has been incredibly informative! I had no idea about the independent student status for grad school - that's actually a huge relief since my parents' income was always an issue for undergrad aid eligibility. One question I haven't seen addressed: do law schools typically send their own financial aid award letters separate from the federal aid, or does it all come together? I'm trying to figure out the timeline for when I'll actually know what my total aid package looks like at each school I'm accepted to. Also, for those who mentioned merit scholarships - are these typically offered at admission or do you have to apply separately? I'm trying to balance my time between LSAT prep and scholarship applications!

Just wanted to add something that really helped me during my law school application process - don't forget to look into work-study opportunities! Many law schools offer federal work-study positions that can help offset some costs, and some even have research assistant positions with professors that can provide valuable experience while earning money. Also, if you're considering public interest law, definitely research Income-Driven Repayment plans and Public Service Loan Forgiveness early. Understanding these programs before you take out loans can help you make more informed decisions about how much to borrow. The PSLF program forgives remaining federal loan balances after 120 qualifying payments while working for qualifying employers (government, 501(c)(3) nonprofits, etc.). One more tip: keep detailed records of all your financial aid documents and communications. You'll need to reference them throughout law school, and having everything organized will save you major headaches later when you're dealing with loan servicers or applying for bar exam loans.

This is exactly what I needed to know, thank you! I'm going to talk to my ex and make sure he understands he needs to file the FAFSA. Not looking forward to that conversation, but it sounds like there's no way around it. I wish the financial aid system was simpler.

I went through this exact situation with my daughter two years ago! The custody/FAFSA rules can be so confusing when you're divorced. Just wanted to add that if you and your ex have joint legal custody but your son physically lives with his dad more than half the time, then yes, his dad is the one who needs to complete the FAFSA - even though you claim your son on taxes and handle the college planning. One thing that helped us was getting everything in writing with my ex before FAFSA season. We agreed on who would file, how we'd split any parent PLUS loans, and what info each of us would provide. It avoided a lot of drama later when deadlines were approaching. For the UTMA account - definitely consider using some of those funds for legitimate college prep expenses before filing if the timing works out. We bought my daughter's laptop, dorm supplies, and even paid for some SAT prep courses from her UTMA account the month before filing, which reduced the reportable balance.