Can I use deceased custodial parent's 2023 tax return for FAFSA after August 2024 death?

I'm very sorry for your loss. This is actually a specific situation addressed in the FAFSA rules. Since your mother was the custodial parent for the 2023 tax year (the base year for the 2025-2026 FAFSA), and she passed away after that tax year was completed, your brother should report her information on the FAFSA as if she were still living. The application will ask if the parent is deceased, and you'll mark 'yes' for that question. Your brother will list only your mother's 2023 tax information, not your father's, even though she is now deceased. This follows the standard FAFSA protocol for reporting information from the custodial parent who was custodial during the base tax year.

im so sorry about ur mom. wen my cousins mom died they had to use the other parent on fafsa so idk if its the same for evryone. maybe call and ask someone?

First, I'm sorry about your mother. To directly answer your question: Yes, you should use your deceased mother's 2023 tax information since she was the custodial parent during the base tax year for the 2025-2026 FAFSA. The StudentAid.gov instructions state that if a parent dies after the FAFSA base year but before the FAFSA is filed, you still report that parent's information. Your brother will need to indicate on the FAFSA that the parent is deceased. Important: When completing the parent household size question, do NOT include your deceased mother in the household count. Your brother should also be prepared for potential verification, as this situation sometimes triggers additional review. I recommend having a copy of the death certificate available if requested by the financial aid office.

The FAFSA system is so FRUSTRATING when it comes to unusual family situations!!! I went through something similar last year (divorce not death) and spent WEEKS trying to get a straight answer. I ended up having to submit extra documents AND still got flagged for verification which delayed my daughter's aid package by MONTHS!!! The school kept asking for different forms and nothing was ever good enough. Hopefully your brother's school financial aid office is more competent than ours was. DOCUMENT EVERYTHING and don't trust what anyone tells you over the phone!!!

I had a terrible time trying to reach anyone at Federal Student Aid when my family situation changed last year. After getting disconnected multiple times and waiting on hold for hours across multiple days, I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to an actual FSA agent in about 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ It seriously saved me so much stress during an already difficult time. Since you're dealing with a complex situation involving a deceased parent, you might want to talk directly with a FAFSA representative to confirm everything is being handled correctly.

my friend had to deal with this last yr. she used her moms info even tho mom passed away becos mom was the one who had custody wen she filed taxes. the financial aid office made her bring death certificate and custody papers tho so have those ready just in case

Regarding your Parent Plus loan question: Your father would be the one to apply for the Parent Plus loan since your mother is deceased. This is separate from the FAFSA itself. Even though your mother's information is used on the FAFSA for SAI calculation purposes, any new Parent Plus loans would need to be in your surviving parent's name if he's willing to take on that responsibility. One additional tip: Make sure your brother completes the "special circumstances" section of the FAFSA or contacts the financial aid office directly. The loss of a parent can sometimes qualify for a professional judgment review, which might result in a lower SAI than what's calculated based on the 2023 tax information alone.

wait so for fafsa u still use the dead parents info? thats kinda weird but i guess it makes sense for the tax year stuff

Thank you everyone for all the helpful advice! After reading everything, our plan is to: 1. Use our mom's 2023 tax information on the FAFSA (marking her as deceased) 2. Not include her in the household count 3. Have her death certificate and divorce papers ready for possible verification 4. Request a professional judgment review due to changed circumstances 5. Have our dad apply for Parent Plus loans if needed I was able to finally speak with someone at Federal Student Aid using that Claimyr service that was suggested, and they confirmed all of this information. They also said we should write a brief statement explaining the situation to include with my brother's FAFSA submission. This has been incredibly helpful - dealing with financial aid after losing a parent is so overwhelming.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Paige. It sounds like you've gotten excellent guidance from everyone here and have a comprehensive plan in place. Just wanted to add that when you mention writing a brief statement to include with the FAFSA, make sure to keep it concise but include key dates (when your mom passed away, that she was custodial parent during 2023 tax year, etc.). Also, since you mentioned your dad makes significantly more money, definitely prioritize that professional judgment review - schools can sometimes make adjustments that result in more favorable aid calculations when there's been a death in the family. Some schools are more generous with these reviews than others, so don't get discouraged if the first response isn't what you hoped for. You can always provide additional documentation or appeal if needed. Best of luck to you and your brother navigating this process during such a difficult time.

I'm really sorry for your loss. Going through FAFSA complications while grieving is incredibly difficult. It looks like you've received excellent advice here and have a solid action plan. One additional thing to consider - when you submit that brief statement explaining your situation, you might also want to mention any changes in household income or support since your mom's passing. For example, if your family lost her income or benefits, or if there were significant medical expenses, these details can strengthen your case for the professional judgment review. Also, keep copies of everything you submit and follow up if you don't hear back within a reasonable timeframe. Some schools process these special circumstance reviews faster than others. You're doing a great job advocating for your brother during such a challenging time.

I'm so sorry for the loss of your mother, and I'm glad to see you've received such thorough guidance from this community. As someone who works in financial aid, I want to emphasize one important point that hasn't been fully addressed: when you complete the professional judgment review request, make sure to specifically ask the financial aid office about their "loss of parent" policies. Many schools have established procedures for students who lose a parent during or after the FAFSA base year, and some automatically review these cases for additional institutional aid beyond federal programs. The key is being proactive about requesting this review rather than waiting for the school to identify your situation. Also, if your brother will be attending college in fall 2025, consider reaching out to the financial aid office soon after submitting the FAFSA rather than waiting for it to be fully processed. They can often begin the professional judgment review process early, which helps avoid delays in your aid package. You're handling this incredibly well under very difficult circumstances.

I'm deeply sorry for your loss, Paige. It's clear you're being an amazing advocate for your brother during such a difficult time. Reading through all the excellent advice shared here, I wanted to add one more practical tip that might help streamline the process. When you prepare that documentation packet (death certificate, divorce decree, etc.), consider creating a simple one-page summary sheet that includes: - Timeline of key events (mom's custodial status during 2023, date of death, FAFSA filing date) - Brief explanation of financial changes since her passing - List of all supporting documents included This summary can help financial aid officers quickly understand your situation and may reduce back-and-forth requests for clarification. Many offices appreciate having the full picture laid out clearly, especially for complex cases like yours. You've received fantastic guidance from this community, and it sounds like you have all the right steps mapped out. Your brother is lucky to have you looking out for him during this challenging process.