FAFSA separated spouse reporting - do I need my estranged husband's info for my daughter's application?

same situation last yr. had to include spouse info even tho we separated. really stupid rule but thats fafsa for u

This is actually a complex situation with the new FAFSA. If you're legally married (not divorced), you generally have to include your spouse's information - EVEN if they're not your child's biological parent. However, there are exceptions: 1. If you have a legal separation agreement (filed through court) 2. If you qualify for a special circumstance (like domestic violence or abandonment) Without a legal separation, you technically need his information. But you might be able to talk to your daughter's college financial aid office about a "professional judgment" adjustment after the FAFSA is processed. Some schools will consider your separation as grounds for excluding spouse income.

DONT listen to ppl saying u HAVE to include him!! My cousin was in exact same spot and she called FSA office and got a dependency override form or something. they said since he wasnt bio dad and they were separated over 1 yr she could leave him off. just need to document it somehow

So I dealt with this EXACT situation last year with my son's FAFSA. It was an absolute nightmare trying to get my ex to cooperate with providing his financial info. We were separated (not legally) and he kept ignoring my requests for his tax documents. After weeks of stress, I FINALLY reached a Federal Student Aid agent who explained all my options clearly. But it took me literally 18 calls to get through to someone helpful. If you're dealing with this situation, I'd recommend using Claimyr to reach an FSA agent directly - saved me hours of waiting when I needed to call back with follow-up questions. Just go to claimyr.com and they'll get you connected to an agent quickly. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ Trust me, for complicated situations like this, you need to talk to an actual FSA agent who can look at your specific case, not just general advice.

The whole FAFSA system is RIDICULOUS!!! My daughter went through the exact same thing with her father and I. Even though we've been separated for 7 YEARS (!!!) without legal paperwork, they STILL counted his income which pushed her out of qualifying for grants. And he contributes ZERO to her education!! The system is completely broken and punishes people who can't afford expensive divorce proceedings. I hate how they calculate the SAI now. 😠

I'm a financial aid advisor, and here's what I recommend in your situation: 1. First, complete the FAFSA as accurately as possible according to your legal marital status. If legally married, include spouse information initially. 2. Then, immediately contact the financial aid office at EACH college your daughter is applying to and request a Professional Judgment (PJ) review based on separation. You'll need documentation showing: - Separate addresses (utility bills, leases) - Separate finances (bank statements) - Duration of separation (statements from third parties) 3. Each school handles these situations differently, so you'll need to work with each one individually. The FAFSA itself doesn't have a formal process for separated-but-not-legally-separated situations, but colleges have significant discretion to adjust your SAI calculation once they understand your circumstances.

my frend didnt put her ex on it at all and nobody even notice. just sayin

my daughter had similar problem but different. her dad isnt on her birth certificate and I never married him but FAFSA still wanted his info for some reason even tho hes never been in her life? we had to do a special form to prove he wasnt involved. maybe theres something similar for ur situation?

Update: I wanted to thank everyone for their advice! I ended up including my separated husband's information on the initial FAFSA application after explaining my situation to him (surprisingly civil conversation). Then I contacted the financial aid offices at my daughter's top choice schools to request professional judgment reviews. Two of the three schools have already responded saying they'll adjust her SAI calculation to exclude his income once I provide documentation of our separation. Such a relief!

As someone who went through a similar situation with my stepson's FAFSA, I want to emphasize what others have said about documenting everything NOW. Start gathering proof of your separation - utility bills showing different addresses, bank statements showing separate accounts, even receipts showing you're paying for your daughter's expenses alone. The financial aid offices will want to see a clear pattern of financial separation, not just physical separation. Also, don't be discouraged if one school says no to a professional judgment review - each school has different policies and some are more flexible than others. My stepson got different responses from different colleges even with the same documentation. Keep advocating for your daughter!