Hi. I'm a custodial - non-guardian - grandparent. The below two posts seem to contradict each other, and I am trying to figure out what the right answer is. Thank you. https://claimyr.com/financial-services/fafsa/Grandparent-custody-and-FAFSA-how-to-report-when-dad-pays-child-support-but-mom-is-absent/2025-03-28 https://claimyr.com/financial-services/fafsa/FAFSA-confusion-Legal-custody-vs-guardianship-grandparent-raising-student-since-infancy/2025-03-28

Hi Joanie! I can understand why those posts might seem contradictory - FAFSA rules around custody vs. guardianship can be really confusing, especially for grandparents in your situation. The key distinction is that custody and guardianship are different legal arrangements. With custody, you may have physical care of your grandchild but the parents still retain their legal rights. With legal guardianship, you've been granted broader legal authority by a court. For FAFSA purposes, what matters is who provides more than 50% of the student's support and who the student lived with most in the 12 months prior to filing. If you're the custodial grandparent providing the majority of support, you would typically be considered the parent on the FAFSA. However, since every situation is unique and these rules can be complex, I'd strongly recommend contacting your school's financial aid office directly. They can review your specific legal documents and circumstances to give you the most accurate guidance for your FAFSA completion. Have you been able to speak with a financial aid counselor yet about your particular situation?