Don’t worry if you have a complicated parent setup (with multiple parents and/or step-parents involved). We’ll help you figure out whom to report information on.
Here’s how it works:
If your parents are married or living in the same place, you must include information about both of them (even if they’re separated). If your parents are divorced, OR if they’re separated and living apart, then you should provide information on the parent who has provided more financial support for you over the past 12 months.
If both parents provided an exact equal amount of financial support or if neither supports you financially, select the parent with the greater income and assets.
If this parent has remarried, you should also include information about their new spouse (your step-parent).
Note that the parent you report on your FAFSA® does NOT need to be the same parent who claims you as a dependent on their taxes.
Find out which parent(s) should participate in a student's FAFSA® form using the following tool:
This infographic also explains it quite well:
