Filling Out the FAFSA: My Parents Were Never Married
The parent who gave you the most financial support over the last 12 months will contribute to your FAFSA, regardless of whether you live with them.
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When can I submit my FAFSA application? The FAFSA for the 2025-26 academic year is now open for all students. FAFSA applications for the current academic year, 2024-25, can be submitted until June 30, 2025.
If your parents were never married and don't live together, the parent who gave you the most financial support over the last 12 months will be your contributor for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) — regardless of whether you lived with this parent.
There are a few special circumstances to know:
If both of your parents provided an equal amount of financial support over the last 12 months, the parent with the greater income and assets is your FAFSA contributor.
If your parent who provided the most financial support also receives child support or alimony, they must list that as an asset on the FAFSA.
If your parents were never married but live together, then both of your parents will serve as FAFSA contributors.
» MORE: FAFSA checklist for 2025-26
Steps for filling out the FAFSA if your parents were never married
Fill out your portion of the FAFSA and submit it.
Determine which parent provided more financial support over the last 12 months. This parent will be your FAFSA contributor.
This parent must request their own FSA ID, which they will use to access their portion of your FAFSA. When filling out the form, they must select "Single (never married)" as their marital status.
The parent must consent to a Direct Data Exchange with the IRS, which automatically transfers financial and tax information to the FAFSA.
The parent must submit their portion of the FAFSA.
Contact your university’s financial aid office and explain your situation; see if they have university-specific advice or protocols. They may ask you to fill out a form.