Hey guys, I'm living with my aunt who's my permanent guardian. I was wondering if the difference between permanent guardianship and custody would affect my financial aid application for college. Does anyone have any information on this? Thanks in advance!
Hey there! The difference between permanent guardianship and custody can indeed have an impact on your financial aid application for college, especially when it comes to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
When filling out the FAFSA, the income and assets of your legal parents (biological or adoptive) are considered to determine your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and financial need. If your parents legally have custody of you, even if you're living with your aunt, their information should be reported on the FAFSA.
However, if you are in a legal guardianship situation like you mentioned, the FAFSA does not require you to provide your guardian's financial information. Instead, you may be considered an independent student for financial aid purposes. This typically results in a lower EFC, which could increase your eligibility for need-based financial aid. Keep in mind that dependency status depends on several factors, and being in a legal guardianship is only one of them.
In either case, it's important to check with the college's financial aid office to understand their specific requirements and additional documentation they may need to process your application accurately.
Remember, the FAFSA is just one part of the financial aid process. Many colleges also require the CSS Profile, which has its own rules and may still want your custodial information even under a legal guardianship. So, make sure to research the requirements for each school you're applying to and ask questions whenever needed! Good luck!
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