Excellent decision, Diego! Starting debt-free is such a huge advantage in today's economy. One more tip since you mentioned Florida - if your son's school participates in the Florida Prepaid program or has any state-specific benefits, double-check that using 529 funds won't affect any future aid eligibility. Also, since he's got such great academic credentials (full scholarship!), keep an eye out for additional merit scholarships that might become available during his college years - sometimes departments offer smaller awards to high-performing students that can help with those "extras" like study abroad or internship expenses. Sounds like you've raised an amazing kid and made smart financial choices along the way!

Just wanted to add another perspective as someone who works in college financial planning - you're absolutely making the right call using the 529 funds! One thing I always tell parents is to also consider setting aside a small emergency fund (maybe $1-2k) from the 529 for true emergencies during the school year. Things like medical expenses, emergency travel home, or unexpected academic costs can pop up. Since your son earned such an impressive scholarship, he's clearly responsible - having a small buffer can prevent any mid-semester financial stress. Also, don't forget that 529 funds can be used for graduate school too if he decides to continue his education later. You've done an amazing job planning ahead and your son is going to have such a great foundation to build on!

One thing nobody's mentioned - if your daughter is living with you most of the time and you're supporting her financially, make absolutely certain you're listed as the custodial parent on the FAFSA. That's actually MORE important than the house asset question in most cases because it determines whose income and assets are considered. I've seen so many people mess this up during divorce situations.

I went through something very similar two years ago! Based on my experience, since you're the custodial parent, filed taxes separately in 2023, and have signed divorce paperwork showing the house goes to your ex, you should NOT include it as your asset. The key is that you're only reporting YOUR assets now, not joint assets from the marriage. I'd definitely add a note in the comments section like others suggested - something like "House being transferred to ex-spouse per divorce settlement, not included as parent asset." Keep all your divorce documentation handy because there's a decent chance you'll get selected for verification with a situation like this. The financial aid office at my daughter's school was actually really helpful when I had to explain my divorce asset situation during verification. You've got this!

dont forget to ask about payment plans too. my school lets us pay monthly instead of all at once which helped my family a ton

Hey! I'm in a similar situation and just went through the appeal process last month. Here's what I learned that might help: 1. Even if nothing changed since FAFSA, you can still appeal based on "special circumstances" - things like if your family's income looks higher on paper than your actual ability to pay for college 2. When you call/visit, ask specifically about "professional judgment review" and mention any factors like: living in expensive area, caring for elderly relatives, high medical costs, or if your parents' income fluctuates seasonally 3. Don't just focus on grants - also ask about work-study opportunities and institutional loans with better terms than federal ones 4. If you're willing to live off-campus or commute, that can sometimes free up more aid since room/board costs are lower The financial aid counselor I spoke with said they review appeals case-by-case and have more flexibility than people think. The worst they can say is no, but you might be surprised! Definitely try going in person if you can - I had way better luck that way than over the phone. Good luck! Don't give up on your dream school yet.

That sounds like a solid plan! One additional tip from my experience - when you're gathering documentation, also include any court orders or legal documents that specifically address child support (even if it's $0). Some schools asked for this as part of their review process. Also, don't get discouraged if some schools initially deny your appeal - you can often request a second review or speak with a supervisor. The squeaky wheel really does get the grease with financial aid offices. Good luck with everything, and definitely do update us on how it goes!

As someone new to navigating FAFSA complications, I really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences here. Isabella, your situation sounds incredibly stressful but your methodical approach is inspiring. I'm curious - for those who have been through the special circumstances appeals process, roughly how long did it take to get responses from the financial aid offices? I'm trying to plan my own timeline and wondering if I should expect weeks or months for schools to review these cases. Also, did any schools ask for additional documentation beyond what you initially submitted, or was the standard package (separation agreement, proof of separate households, support documentation) usually sufficient?

As someone who just went through this exact nightmare last month with my daughter's application, I feel your pain! The panic is so real when you see all that work just vanish. I'm glad to see from the updates that your form came back - that's exactly what happened to us too after about 30 hours of pure stress. For anyone else reading this who might face the same issue in the future, I'd add one more tip: screenshot your confirmation pages and save copies of any emails you get from studentaid.gov. Having those reference numbers can be really helpful when you're on the phone with FSA trying to prove your application existed. This community has been such a lifesaver for navigating all these FAFSA headaches!

As a newcomer to this community, reading this thread has been both educational and nerve-wracking! I'm currently helping my niece with her 2025-26 FAFSA application and seeing how applications can just disappear after maintenance is honestly my worst nightmare. But I'm so relieved to see how this community rallied around you with practical solutions and moral support. The troubleshooting steps everyone shared are incredibly valuable - I'm bookmarking this thread for future reference. Emma's advice about saving PDFs as you go is brilliant, and Aurora's tip about screenshotting confirmation pages is something I never would have thought of. It's clear that while the FAFSA system has its issues, this community is an amazing resource for navigating them. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and solutions - it makes this whole process feel less overwhelming!