FAFSA with recent divorce - handling special circumstances when parents filed jointly in 2023

You need to file the FAFSA with the info as it currently stands (using both parents' 2023 tax info since they filed jointly), then immediately contact each college's financial aid office to request a 'Professional Judgment Review' or 'Special Circumstances Review.' This is specifically for situations like divorce that happened after the tax year being used for FAFSA. Each school handles these differently, but they typically require documentation like the divorce decree, proof of current household income for the custodial parent (your sister), and a written explanation of the change in circumstances.

I work in financial aid and deal with these situations frequently. The 2025-2026 FAFSA uses 2023 tax info, so initially, both parents' information must be included since they filed jointly. After submission, you'll need to contact each school for a special circumstances review. Here's the exact process: 1. Complete FAFSA using both parents' 2023 tax information 2. Once submitted, contact each financial aid office explaining the divorce situation 3. Ask specifically for a "Professional Judgment" review based on changed family circumstances 4. They'll send forms requesting: divorce decree, current income documentation for custodial parent, and proof of separate households 5. Each school evaluates independently, so their processes may differ slightly The key is getting documentation ready showing current financial reality vs. what's reflected in the 2023 tax return. Don't wait - some schools have deadlines for special circumstance reviews.

OMG I went through this EXACT thing with my daughter last year!!! It was a NIGHTMARE trying to get anyone at financial aid to help us. I must have called the Federal Student Aid hotline like 20 times and either got disconnected or waited for hours!! Our divorce was finalized in Oct 2023 but we had filed 2022 taxes jointly. We had to submit the FAFSA with both incomes first which COMPLETELY messed up her aid eligibility because my ex makes wayyy more than me and she lives with me full-time!!! So frustrating!!!

Yes but it took FOREVER and each school handled it differently! Some were super helpful and others acted like they'd never heard of divorce before 🙄 Make sure you get the divorce decree, custody agreement, and your sister needs recent pay stubs and maybe a letter explaining her current financial situation. The worst part was trying to get through to someone at Federal Student Aid to ask questions when we got confused about some of the forms. I wasted so many hours on hold!

my son had this SAME issue only his dad moved to another state too... we had to do the professional judgement thing at like 5 different schools and each one wanted different paperwork. kinda sucked but it worked out in the end. biggest thing is dont wait till last minute because some schools have deadlines for these special reviews

Some ppl r saying use both parents but i think thats wrong. If custody is with mom and divorce is final before she submits FAFSA she only needs moms info. My cousins finaid officer told us this. They care about custodial parent only. Joint taxes dont matter if divorce is final.

One very important thing to note: when you submit documentation for the professional judgment review, make sure to keep copies of EVERYTHING. Some schools lost my paperwork twice and we had to resubmit. Also, follow up regularly - don't assume they're processing everything. Each school will recalculate your niece's SAI (Student Aid Index) based on just the custodial parent's income, which could significantly improve her aid eligibility. One more tip: if the divorce settlement included any one-time payments, make sure to note those as non-recurring income, otherwise they might calculate future income incorrectly. My sister's financial aid package increased by almost $12,000 after the professional judgment review was completed!

Btw the new fafsa is super confusing... my daughter had to restart like 3 times cause there's all these new questions about contributors and stuff

Thanks everyone for all this helpful information! Just to make sure I understand: we'll fill out the FAFSA using both parents' 2023 joint tax info first, then immediately request Professional Judgment reviews from each school explaining the divorce situation. We'll need the divorce decree, proof that my niece lives primarily with her mom, and current income documentation for my sister. And I'll definitely check out that Claimyr service if we need to reach someone at FSA with questions - sounds much better than waiting on hold forever. I really appreciate all your advice!

Just wanted to add one more important detail that helped us tremendously - when you're gathering documentation for the professional judgment review, also include any child support agreements or court orders about financial responsibility. Even if child support isn't being paid regularly yet (which is common right after divorce), the schools want to see what the legal arrangement is. Also, if your sister's income has changed significantly since 2023 (new job, reduced hours, etc.), make sure to document that too. We found that schools were much more responsive when we provided a complete picture of the financial changes rather than just focusing on the divorce itself. The whole process took about 6-8 weeks at most schools, but it was absolutely worth it for the aid adjustment we received!

I went through this exact situation with my daughter two years ago! One thing I wish someone had told me earlier is to start the professional judgment process as soon as possible after submitting the FAFSA - don't wait for the schools to process it first. Most financial aid offices can begin reviewing your special circumstances documentation even while the initial FAFSA is still being processed. Also, keep a spreadsheet tracking which schools you've contacted, what documents they've requested, and their specific deadlines. Each school really does handle it differently - some wanted notarized statements, others just needed copies, and a few required additional forms beyond the standard documentation. The key is being proactive and organized. Your niece is lucky to have you helping her navigate this complicated process!

Just wanted to add from my recent experience - make sure to ask each school about their specific timeline for professional judgment decisions. Some schools told us 4-6 weeks but actually completed the review in 2-3 weeks, while others took the full timeline they quoted. Also, if your niece is considering both public and private schools, I found that private schools were generally more flexible and faster with their professional judgment reviews, probably because they have more discretion in awarding institutional aid. One last tip: if any of the schools offer "Priority FAFSA" deadlines or early financial aid consideration, definitely meet those deadlines even though you'll need the professional judgment review later - it can affect merit aid eligibility at some institutions. The whole process seems overwhelming at first, but you're asking all the right questions and getting great advice here!

As someone who just went through this process last year with my stepdaughter, I want to emphasize how important it is to be persistent with the schools. We had one university that initially said they "don't do professional judgment reviews for divorce situations" which was completely wrong - all schools that participate in federal aid programs are required to consider special circumstances. Don't let anyone tell you it's not possible! We ended up speaking with a supervisor and got it sorted out. Also, when gathering income documentation for your sister, include not just recent pay stubs but also a letter from her employer confirming her current salary/hourly rate if possible. Some schools wanted to see employment verification beyond just the pay stubs. The process can be frustrating, but the financial impact makes it absolutely worth the effort - we saw about a $8,000 increase in aid eligibility after the review was completed.

I'm new to navigating FAFSA and this thread has been incredibly eye-opening! My younger brother will be going through college applications soon, and while our parents aren't divorced, I had no idea about these professional judgment reviews for special circumstances in general. It sounds like this process could apply to other major life changes too - like job loss, medical expenses, or other financial hardships that happen after the tax year the FAFSA uses. Does anyone know what other situations typically qualify for these professional judgment reviews? I want to make sure I'm prepared to help my brother if any unexpected circumstances come up during his application process. The advice about keeping detailed documentation and being proactive with contacting schools seems like it would apply to any special circumstances situation.

This is such valuable information for anyone dealing with divorce and FAFSA! I'm a college counselor and see families struggle with this situation regularly. One thing I'd add is to make sure your niece's mom keeps detailed records of any temporary spousal support or alimony payments that might not be reflected in the 2023 taxes but are part of her current income situation. Schools will want to know about ongoing support payments when calculating the new SAI. Also, if there were any assets divided in the divorce (like retirement accounts, investments, or property), make sure to report those accurately in the professional judgment documentation since the FAFSA asset calculations will need updating too. The divorce decree should outline these asset divisions clearly. It really sounds like you're on the right track with gathering all the necessary documentation - having an organized advocate like you makes such a difference in these complex situations!