FAFSA for divorced parent with full custody but no financial info from ex - what to do?

You may qualify for what's called a "special circumstance" with your FAFSA. Since you have de facto 100% custody (even if legal documents say otherwise), you should be able to complete the FAFSA with just your information. You'll need to document that your ex is absent/non-communicative. The financial aid office at each college can help with a dependency override or special circumstance review. Contact them ASAP with documentation showing you've attempted to get his info (emails, texts, lawyer letters). Don't wait for him to respond - start this process now.

im in the exact same boat!!! my ex hasnt seen our son in 5 yrs but technically we have joint custody on paper. i just did my sons fafsa with just my info and wrote a letter explaining why. financial aid office said it was fine just needed police report from when he threatend me (which is why he disappeared) yours is different but same idea - you need proof hes not involved

When my niece was applying, her mom was in the same situation. The college said she needed to submit the "Special Circumstances Form" - each school has their own version. They also asked for a letter from a professional (therapist, school counselor, etc.) confirming the other parent wasn't involved. Worth checking with your daughter's top choice schools.

Have you tried reaching Federal Student Aid directly? They have specialized advisors for this exact situation. I was getting nowhere with my complicated divorce situation until I called FSA directly. I used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through without waiting for hours - they have a video demo showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ. The FSA agent walked me through exactly what documentation I needed for my situation and how to submit it properly. They can actually note your account with the special circumstance so it's flagged for review.

Here's the exact process you need to follow: 1. Complete the FAFSA with just your information as the custodial parent 2. In the comments section, note that the non-custodial parent is unwilling to provide information 3. Contact each college's financial aid office IMMEDIATELY after submitting 4. Prepare a dependency override request with the following documents: - Letter explaining the situation - Documentation of all attempts to contact your ex - Letter from a professional third party (counselor, teacher, etc.) - Any court documents showing custody arrangement - Statement addressing any known financial support (like the insurance) The key is being proactive with the financial aid offices. Don't wait for them to ask questions - reach out first with all your documentation ready.

I work in a college financial aid office. This is one of our most common scenarios. We need documentation showing you've made real efforts to get his info, and proof you have de facto full custody. The fact that he pays some expenses actually complicates things - you'll need to provide your best estimate of those amounts. Also be ready for different schools to have different requirements - some are stricter than others about dependency overrides.

WHY IS NOBODY MENTIONING THAT THE FAFSA CHANGED FOR 2025-2026?!! The rules are different now with the new SAI formula. I think it's actually HARDER to exclude a parent now, even with extenuating circumstances. My daughter's college aid office told me the new FAFSA is causing havoc with these situations.

Have you considered just filing without his information and then appealing if there's an issue? My cousin did that and it worked out fine. Sometimes it's better to just move forward rather than getting stuck trying to get his info. Your daughter's future shouldn't be held hostage by your ex's unwillingness to cooperate.

To directly answer your original question: For the 2025-2026 FAFSA, if you have 100% physical custody (even if legal documents say otherwise), you should generally be allowed to complete the FAFSA with just your information. The fact that he provides some financial support through insurance doesn't change this if he's otherwise absent from her life. Document everything, be proactive with the financial aid offices, and don't miss those priority deadlines!

I went through this exact situation with my son two years ago! Here's what worked for us: I called each college's financial aid office directly and explained the situation upfront. Most were very understanding and walked me through their specific process. The key thing I learned is that different schools handle this differently - some required more documentation than others. Also, don't worry too much about the insurance payments he makes - as long as you estimate them honestly and explain you don't have exact amounts, that should be fine. The important thing is showing you've made good faith efforts to get his information and that you're the de facto sole parent. Start reaching out to those financial aid offices now - they'd rather help you navigate this than have you miss deadlines!

I'm new to this community but wanted to share what happened with my neighbor who went through something very similar last year. She had been the sole caretaker for years but her ex was still legally considered a parent. What really helped her case was getting a letter from her daughter's school counselor confirming that she was the only parent who had ever been involved - attending parent-teacher conferences, handling emergencies, etc. She also got statements from her daughter's doctors and therapist confirming the same thing. The financial aid offices were much more receptive when she had multiple third-party professionals backing up her story. One tip she shared: when you call the financial aid offices, ask specifically about their "professional judgment" process - that's the official term they use, and it shows you understand the system. Good luck with everything!