I'm so sorry for your loss, and I really admire how you're thinking ahead about your son's financial aid despite everything you're going through. Everyone here has given you excellent advice about keeping it as a parent asset - that 20% vs 5.64% assessment rate difference is absolutely crucial at your income level. One thing I wanted to add that I learned the hard way: if you do decide to put some of this toward your IRA (which is a great strategy since retirement accounts don't count on FAFSA), make sure you understand the contribution limits and deadlines. For 2024, you can still contribute up to $7,000 to an IRA until April 15, 2025. If you're over 50, it's $8,000. That could be a perfect way to shelter most of this inheritance while still keeping some accessible for emergencies. Also, don't forget that the FAFSA will need to be renewed every year your son is in college, so this strategic thinking about assets will be relevant for multiple years, not just his freshman year. You're being really smart to get this right from the start.

I'm sorry for your loss, and I want to echo what everyone has said about keeping this as a parent asset - the assessment rate difference is significant enough that it could impact your son's aid package by over $1,000. One additional strategy to consider: if you have any high-interest debt (credit cards, personal loans), using part of this inheritance to pay that down before filing FAFSA could be financially beneficial in multiple ways. You'd reduce your reportable assets while also saving on interest payments, which effectively gives you more money available for college expenses. Just make sure to keep documentation of any debt payments in case financial aid offices have questions about asset changes. The retirement account strategy others mentioned is excellent too, especially since you're in the age range where catch-up contributions are allowed. Whatever you decide, you're asking the right questions and clearly thinking strategically about your son's future despite dealing with a difficult time.

Just wanted to add - make sure your parents know they can work on their sections simultaneously! I was worried they'd have to do it one at a time, but the system allows both parents to log in and complete their parts at the same time. This can really speed up the process if you have cooperative parents. Also, if either parent runs into technical issues with their FSA ID creation, they should try using a different browser or clearing their cache - that solved my mom's login problems.

As someone who just went through this process with my parents last month, I can confirm everything others have said is correct! Both married parents must complete their sections even when filing taxes separately. One tip that saved us a lot of headaches: have both parents create their FSA IDs BEFORE you start your FAFSA application. This way when you send the invites, they can immediately access their sections instead of having to go through the ID creation process which can take 1-3 days for verification. Also, make sure they have all their tax documents ready beforehand - W-2s, 1099s, etc. The process goes much smoother when everyone is prepared!

You all have been SO helpful! I'm going to: 1. Complete the FAFSA with our current information 2. Have my son request a reduced schedule at his current job if possible 3. File for Professional Judgment reviews at each school 4. Use that Claimyr service to speak with someone directly about our options It's still frustrating that the system doesn't automatically account for these situations, but at least there's a path forward. Thank you everyone!

As someone who just went through this process with my own child, I want to add that timing is really important with the Professional Judgment appeals. Don't wait until the last minute to submit them! Some schools have deadlines for these requests, and processing can take several weeks. Also, be prepared to provide documentation like a resignation letter, last pay stub, and a statement explaining the circumstances. The more thorough your documentation, the better your chances of getting the adjustment approved. Your son is lucky to have such a supportive parent advocating for him!

Just to clarify a few points: 1) Only the custodial parent completes the FAFSA (you, in this case), 2) Child support received DOES count as untaxed income on the FAFSA, but money your ex pays directly to the school is handled differently, 3) If you've remarried, your current spouse's information must be included regardless of their relationship to your son. The Direct2Student section of the FAFSA has a great worksheet specifically for divorced/separated parents that might help you organize the information before you start filling out the actual form.

I went through this exact situation two years ago! Since your son lives with you primarily and you're covering most expenses, you're definitely the custodial parent who should complete the FAFSA. One thing that helped me was keeping detailed records of all expenses I paid vs. what my ex contributed - made it much easier to determine the 50%+ support requirement and accurately report everything. The new FAFSA is actually much clearer about divorced parent situations than the old one was. Don't stress too much about it - sounds like you have a straightforward case where you're clearly the custodial parent.

Welcome to the community! I'm new here too and this thread has been incredibly helpful. I was in almost the exact same situation last week - totally stressed about tax filing status and FAFSA deadlines. Like others mentioned, definitely check which tax year you actually need first! I made the same mistake initially thinking I needed my most recent taxes when I actually needed the prior-prior year. Once I figured that out, everything became so much easier. The FAFSA can definitely be overwhelming at first, but this community seems really supportive. Good luck with your application!

As someone who just went through this process, I can't stress enough how important it is to get the tax year right! I was in the same boat earlier this year - panicking about my accountant not filing my 2024 taxes yet, only to discover I actually needed my 2023 taxes which were already processed months ago. The prior-prior year rule is confusing but it's actually designed to make things easier since those tax returns are already complete and processed by the IRS. One tip that saved me time: before you start entering numbers, have your actual tax return pulled up (either downloaded from the IRS website or your paper copy) and enter the information line by line exactly as it appears. The IRS Data Retrieval Tool is great when it works, but sometimes it's faster to just enter everything manually to avoid any potential hiccups. You're doing great by starting early - that's honestly half the battle with financial aid!