FAFSA dependency override with temporary custody - not full guardianship?

call the school he wants to go to and ask to speak with someone in financial aid office. they deal with these situations all the time and can tell you exactly what he needs for the dependency override

Your grandson will need to apply for what's called a "dependency override" through the financial aid office. This is specifically for unusual circumstances like yours where the normal parental information doesn't apply. He'll need: 1. Your temporary custody papers 2. A personal statement explaining the situation 3. At least two letters from professional third parties (teacher, counselor, social worker, etc.) who can verify the family situation Each school handles these differently, but most have a specific dependency override form. Contact his top choice schools directly as soon as possible, as these requests take time to process.

Yes, a high school counselor and family doctor would be perfect for the third-party letters. They need to specifically address the lack of parent contact and your role as his caretaker. Regarding timing: He should complete the FAFSA first, answering "No" to all the dependency questions, then answer "Yes" when it asks if he has special circumstances. This flags the application. Then immediately contact each school's financial aid office about their dependency override process. Each school makes this determination independently.

My nephew had almost IDENTICAL situation!!! His mom (my sister) abandoned him as a baby and my parents raised him with just temporary papers. When he applied to college last year the FAFSA was a NIGHTMARE because my parents weren't legal guardians. They rejected him as independent at first and we had to FIGHT with tons of documentation. Took almost 3 months to resolve!!

Yes he finally got approved!! They required TONS of paperwork - the temporary custody order, letters from his highschool counselor and our pastor, and a personal statement from him describing how he had no contact with his bio parents. The Financial Aid office at his first-choice school was actually super helpful (state university) but his second choice was TERRIBLE and denied him. So definitely talk directly with the specific school he wants!!

UPDATE: I called the college my grandson wants to attend and actually got a callback from a financial aid counselor! She confirmed that because he's not legally my child (despite raising him), he WOULD qualify to apply as an independent student. Our income won't be considered as long as we provide the court papers showing temporary custody. Such a relief!

Just a heads-up based on my experience as a college counselor: even though the school said he qualifies, the automated FAFSA system will likely flag his application during processing. When this happens, don't panic! It's normal for these special circumstances. The FAFSA processors and the school are different entities. Make sure he answers "No" to all dependency questions on the FAFSA, then selects "Yes" for special circumstances. After submission, he'll get a Student Aid Index (SAI) calculation based on his info only. The school's financial aid office will then use your documentation to approve his independent status for their aid packages.

You only submit the dependency override documentation directly to each school's financial aid office, not to the FAFSA system. The Federal Student Aid office doesn't make these determinations - each individual school does. That's why it's so important to contact every school he's applying to about their specific process.

One important thing no one's mentioned yet - make sure your grandson completes the FAFSA as early as possible (it opens October 1st for the 2025-2026 year). Since his case requires manual review, it will take MUCH longer than standard applications. Some schools have priority deadlines for institutional scholarships as early as November/December, and dependency overrides can take 4-6 weeks to process. Don't wait until the last minute!

He can complete the FAFSA before applying to colleges. When filling out the FAFSA, he'll list all the schools he's considering, and the information will be sent to them. He can add or remove schools later if his plans change. What's most important is getting that application in early, especially with his special circumstances.

As a financial aid officer, I want to emphasize that dependency overrides are absolutely possible in your situation, but documentation is key. In addition to what others have mentioned, consider getting a letter from your grandson's pediatrician or any healthcare provider who has treated him over the years - they can verify the long-term care relationship. Also, if there are any school records showing you listed as the emergency contact or guardian over the years, those help establish the pattern of care. The fact that you've raised him for 17+ years with zero parental contact is actually a very strong case for independence. Don't let the temporary custody aspect discourage you - courts recognize these arrangements as valid care situations.