If you are considered a dependent student for FAFSA purposes, you’ll need to provide information about your legal parent(s) on the application. A legal parent is your biological or adoptive parent, or your legal parent as determined by the state (for example, if the parent is listed on your birth certificate). Unless otherwise noted, “parent” means your legal (biological and/or adoptive) parent.
A contributor is anyone (you, your spouse, your biological or adoptive parent, or your parent’s spouse) who is required to provide information on the FAFSA form, sign the FAFSA form, and provide consent and approval to have their federal tax information transferred directly from the IRS into the form. Once you've identified your form contributors, they must set up a StudentAid.gov account so they can easily access your online FAFSA form.
Who Is My Parent On the FAFSA?
If you need to report parent information on the FAFSA form, here are some guidelines to help you: If your parents are married (not separated), both of your parents’ information must be included on the FAFSA form, regardless of whether your parents are of the same or opposite sex.
If your parents didn’t file taxes jointly, then both of your parents are contributors. If your parents filed taxes jointly, only one parent is required to be a contributor and will report information for both parents.
- If your parents are not married to each other and live together, both of your parents are contributors, and their information must be included on the FAFSA form, regardless of whether your parents are of the same or opposite sex.
- If your parents are divorced, separated, or never married, and don’t live together, the parent who provided more financial support during the last 12 months is the contributor and must provide their information. If both parents provided an equal amount of financial support or if they don’t support you financially, the parent with the greater income and assets is the contributor and must provide their information.
- If your parent is widowed, that parent is the contributor and must provide their information.
- Same-sex couples must report their marital status as married if they were legally married in a state or other jurisdiction (foreign country), without regard to where they live or where you will be going to school.
Reporting Stepparent Information
Your stepparent is considered a parent if they have adopted you. If they haven’t adopted you, the form may still prompt your parent to provide your stepparent’s information, depending on their tax filing status.
Note: The FAFSA form asks if either of your parents attended college and if your parent was killed in the line of duty. For these two questions, your parents are your biological or adoptive parents—your stepparent is not your parent for these questions.
If your stepparent was married to your parent but is now widowed, that stepparent doesn’t count as a parent on your FAFSA form unless your stepparent has legally adopted you.
Living With Someone Other Than Your Parents
If you don’t live with your parent(s), you must report information about them if you’re considered a dependent student for FAFSA purposes.
The following people are not your parents unless they have legally adopted you: grandparents, foster parents, legal guardians, older brothers or sisters, uncles or aunts, and widowed stepparents.
Still Need Help?
You the Who's My FAFSA Parent? Wizard to identify which parent(s) will be a required contributor on the FAFSA form.