Do You Have to List Both Parents on the FAFSA?

I'm starting to fill out the FAFSA and I'm a bit confused about how to handle the parent section. My parents are divorced, and I've been living with my mom. Do I still need to include information about my dad? I've heard different things from friends, and I just want to make sure I'm doing this correctly. I don't want to make any mistakes that could affect my financial aid eligibility. Any advice from people who've been through this before would be awesome!

The FAFSA guidelines indicate that if your parents are divorced, you should only have to report the information for the parent with whom you've lived the most during the past 12 months. This would be your custodial parent. So, if you've been living primarily with your mom, you would need to include her information only. It doesn't matter which parent claims you as a dependent for tax purposes.

However, there is an exception to this rule. If your mom has gotten remarried, you'll also need to include your stepparent's information on the FAFSA. The assumption is that they're a part of your household and that their income and assets should also be factored into the calculation of your expected family contribution or EFC (now the Student Aid Index or SAI).

It's worth mentioning that some colleges have additional financial aid forms that require information from both parents regardless of their marital status, such as the CSS Profile. Always make sure to check with each individual school's financial aid office to make sure you're providing all necessary information.

Filling the FAFSA can be complex, especially when dealing with divorced parents. Be sure to take your time and fill out everything accurately. Mistakes can be corrected, but they can also delay your aid. Good luck with your application!