Financial aid help please!!!!?

okay so im trying to go to college i filled out an online financial aid and it came 2 thepart where you have to give parent info and ss number and ect ect heres the problem my mother died when i was 17 havent seen my father since i was 5 im 21 now and i had to call then tell them this so i ask if i can use my sisters info since she had been my caretaker after my mother passed and if not can i sign up for n independant form and the women says that i need a copy of my mothers death certificate and a chool psychologist or somthing to write a letter stating that my mother is indeed dead but i dont get it why do i need any of that im 21 years old my brother inlaw is going back to school and is applying for financial aid and they arent asking anything bout his parents can someone help me please what should i do thank you

Your brother-in-law is married; hence his parental information is not relevant. Keep the focus on yourself because your situation is unique, as is that of others.

If you are 21 years old and you file your own income taxes in 2007 and were not claimed as a dependent of your sister, then all you need to do is provide the info from your 1040 filing.

If you did not file taxes and you are dependent upon another person (your sister?), then you must provide her information if she claimed you as a dependent.

If you have the death certificate of your mother, that serves as sufficient proof that she is indeed dead.

Your sister can provide a signed, notarized affidavit stating that neither of you has had any contact with your dad for 15 or 16 years nor do you have any information regarding his whereabouts, etc.

You need to call the financial aid office of the school you want to attend and sit down and have a chat with the financial aid adviser there. Your situation falls beyond the boundaries of most conventional scenarios and needs special consideration.

Don't get discouraged. Initially the FAFSA and admissions and all that is very confusing (and can be annoying), but hang in there and go step by step. It won't take long at all til you figure out how the system works. You just gotta get IN the system first. lol

Email if questions.

Maybe when you started your application you put that you where a dependent?

If you are 21 and you put that you are independent you should not have to put any parents information. My guess is that you can go back and correct it.

Hope that helps..

BTW sorry to hear you lost your mom at 17.....

Good luck with college!

Does anyone claim you as a dependent on their tax returns? If not, apply for financial aid as independent and then your parents' info should not matter.

My mother died when I was 15 and my father kicked my out when I was 17. I filled out the fafsa without my parents info and checked the box that they were both deceased because my school councelor told me to that. Once your **** goes through talk to the financial aid person at your college and tell them your situation. Your most likely going to be fine. I was. I got awarded the pell grant. So that helps a **** ton. But if youneed anymore info, just email me maybe I can help.

You cannot just file as an independent student. You have to answer 8 questions on the form that determine if you have to put parental information on the form or not. To be considered an independent student you have to be:
25 years old or
Married or
Have a dependent or child or
Have a 4 year degree or
Be an orphan or ward of the court or
be a vet.

Since none of these apply to you, you are considered a dependent student. they did not ask your brother-in-law for parental information because he is married and that makes a person independent.

What is school is asking for is not out of line at all. The school and government is just protecting themselves and the taxpayers. Just give them the information they are asking for and they will give you what is called a "dependency override". This is let you become an independent student and you will not need parental information.