Divorced parent remarrying before FAFSA submission - how to answer marital status question?

Thank you! That makes sense. I think I got confused because they require the 2023 tax info but want current marital status. If I submit before my December wedding, I'll select 'divorced' - but if I submit after, I'd select 'married' and include my new spouse's financial information. Appreciate the clarity!

Oh no! That's exactly what I'm worried about. So did you have to change your answer to 'divorced' even though you were married when you filled it out?

they made me submit a special form. cant remember what it was called but they sent an email about it. had to prove when i got remarried with a certificate and everything. was so much paperwork

Thanks for the clear explanation. Do you think it would be better for me to submit before getting married then? My fiancé makes quite a bit more than I do, and I'm concerned it might reduce her aid eligibility if I include his information.

That's a strategic question many families face. If your fiancé has substantial income or assets, submitting before your marriage could potentially result in a lower SAI (meaning more aid eligibility). However, be aware that some colleges require the CSS Profile in addition to FAFSA, and they often have different rules about family composition and might ask about future changes in marital status. I'd recommend running the numbers both ways using the Federal Student Aid Estimator tool: https://studentaid.gov/aid-estimator/

While the system can definitely be frustrating, it's not designed to deny aid - though it certainly feels that way sometimes! For situations involving recent divorce, the financial aid office at your sister's school should have been able to help with a professional judgment adjustment. Did she try contacting them directly?

yeah she tried but they keep giving her the runaround and saying to call the FAFSA people directly but u can never get thru on those phone lines!!

That's a really good point. I was planning to submit as soon as the form opens, but you're right that there's no rush with the new schedule. The wedding is mid-December, so waiting until January would simplify things. I just don't want my daughter to miss out on any first-come-first-served aid opportunities.

That used to be a bigger concern with the old March 1st priority deadlines, but most schools have adjusted their timelines with the FAFSA changes. Double-check your daughter's preferred schools for their specific priority deadlines, but most are giving much more flexibility now since the FAFSA rollout has been so problematic the last couple years.

Thank you for the tip! I've tried calling FSA before and got nowhere. I'll check out that service if I need to speak with someone directly. It's comforting to hear that an official FSA agent confirmed the 'as of today' rule.

does that service cost money tho? seems sketchy to have to pay just to talk to the govt about our own financial aid smh

Thank you for this detailed information. My fiancé does have substantially higher income than I do, so this could definitely affect her aid. She's applying to both public and private schools, so I'll need to research which ones require the CSS Profile as well. This is all much more complicated than I expected!

It definitely can be complex! For schools requiring the CSS Profile, check each school's specific requirements since they can customize their questions. Also, many financial aid offices are more understanding of family situations than people realize - if you're concerned, don't hesitate to contact your daughter's top choice schools directly to ask how they handle upcoming marriages in their institutional methodology.

Yes, that's correct. The 2025-2026 FAFSA will use 2023 tax information (from two years prior). It's called prior-prior year reporting. But your marital status should reflect your current situation on the day you sign the FAFSA, not your status in 2023.