FAFSA contributor change after moving out of state - does my ex need a new FSA ID?

Yes, your ex will need to create his own FSA ID. Each contributor needs their own separate FSA ID to sign the FAFSA electronically. This is different from the student's FSA ID. He'll need to go to studentaid.gov and create a new account with his own email, phone number, and SSN. It's fairly straightforward but make sure he does this well before the deadline as verification of his information can sometimes take 1-3 days.

make sure ur son doesnt lose his in-state status!!! my cousin moved out of state and her kid lost all his scholarships cuz they said she wasnt a resident anymore even tho the kid never left!

The FAFSA system is SO ANNOYING with divorced parents!!! When my ex tried to take over our daughter's FAFSA last year, we had to call the Federal Student Aid people like 6 TIMES because the system kept glitching and wouldn't recognize him as an authorized contributor. They kept transferring us between departments and then disconnecting. SUCH A NIGHTMARE.

Your son's father will definitely need his own FSA ID, and it needs to be created several days before you plan to submit the FAFSA because the system needs time to verify his information. Also, make sure your son updates his permanent address in all college systems if he's primarily living with his dad now. This helps establish that Michigan is still his permanent state of residence for tuition purposes. One more thing - when switching contributors, the new FAFSA won't automatically pull in any prior information, so your ex will need all the usual documentation (tax returns, W-2s, bank statements, etc.) to complete it from scratch. The SAI calculation will be based entirely on his financial information.

I went through something similar last yr when my husband took over. Make sure your sons login info is separate from yours!!! We had problems because I had used my email for both of us and it got confusing when he tried to create his account. Also tell your ex to SAVE HIS PASSWORD somewhere safe because if he forgets it the recovery is a huge hassle!!!!

One important thing to keep in mind: When your son's father creates his FSA ID, he'll need to link it to his Social Security Number, and there's a verification process that can take 1-3 days. Also, for the 2025-2026 FAFSA, he'll need his 2023 tax return information (that's the base tax year for that application cycle). Regarding the contributor change process itself, it's fairly straightforward on the student's application. When your son logs in to complete the new FAFSA, he'll have the option to select which parent's information to include. He'll simply choose his father and enter his father's FSA ID when prompted. This shouldn't affect his in-state tuition status as long as your son maintains his Michigan residency and his father continues to live in-state.

I just went thru this exact thing!!! My situation was reverse tho - I moved back TO my kid's college state and took over FAFSA from my ex who moved away. The residency stuff worked out fine but we had a NIGHTMARE with the contributor switch because my ex had linked his bank accounts to the old FAFSA and somehow we couldn't unlink them without him being present which was impossible since he moved to Alaska! We had to do a whole appeal process and my daughter almost lost her second semester aid bcause of the delays!!! Start this process EARLY!!!!!

One final note - your son should also check with his specific college's financial aid office about their process for documenting the change in which parent is providing support. Some schools require additional documentation to maintain in-state tuition when a parent moves out of state, while others will just need confirmation that the in-state parent is now the primary contributor on the FAFSA. It's best to get this clarified directly with the school to prevent any surprises with his tuition status.