For divorced or separated situations, the custodial parent’s financial information is required on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), while the noncustodial parent’s information is not required.

Who’s the “custodial” parent? For federal student aid purposes, it’s the parent with whom a student lived most during the previous 12 months – based on the FAFSA signature date, not the prior calendar year. The same policy applies even if each parent shared equal custody. In instances where a child spends half his or her time with each parent, and both parents shared half the support expenses, an aid administrator may be required to name the custodial parent.

Some college aid offices, often those of private schools, require information from a noncustodial parent, including applicable tax documents. Other private colleges may not, but they may still assess a noncustodial parent contribution.

Perhaps one of the most contentious financial aid issues: the responsibility of stepparents. Be prepared, for financial aid purposes, a stepparent is almost always considered financially responsible for a stepson or stepdaughter, even in cases of prenuptial agreements or court orders.