My legal guardian will not assist me in completing my FAFSA?

I know there are 1000+ questions about FAFSA that are similar to this. However each question has their own situation and there are so many answers floating around. Sometimes people answer with not the best advice so here I am asking in my situation and circumstances.

This may be long and I apologize in advance. That tends to be a bad habit of mine.

I'm 19 years old as of 2008. I live in Colorado. My parents are divorced and my legal guardian is my biological mother. She is wishy-washy on the whole "I'll support you if you go to Front Range Community College". We have our arguments and she brings up the topic "I'm not going to support you for Front Range Community College". It's on and off. As of right now, she will not support me after our recent argument. After my mother going on and off about supporting me and not, I know that now I cannot depend on her anymore because of her actions and her decisions. It is not safe for my future to do so so now I will look the other way and move forward.

I have never filled out a FAFSA form before but I know from the site that my status is dependent. I know from going through the site that I need my mother's tax information. Is there anything else? I've seen on a couple of answers that I can "estimate" her tax information? Do I need her electronic signature to 100% complete my FAFSA too?

I do not have job and I already know I need one. I've been applying and applying and I haven't heard back from anyone. I know that one of my options are to move out and provide for my own until I am 24 and then I can file my status as independent after x years (how many years exactly?)

College requires money. Not everyone has money to fully pay their tuition in one set payment. I know that much. However, what I do not know is how much financial aid is possible for the "best" circumstances. In other words, how much financial aid can you receive from the government? I'm not talking about how much me, myself, would gain because I know it depends on everything - my income, my parent's income, our status, etc. But I want to know, for example, if FAFSA can pay for my entire intuition. (Please keep idiotic comments to yourself. I know it's a "dumb" question for those who think those exists but I don't want to hear your flames.)

One tiny piece of me would like to know personally if you have been in this situation as a parent or a student (or even a bystander). You know, just sort of "I want to know I'm not the only young adult going through this". I know there are people who have gone through this but it'll make me feel a bit better that I'm not alone on this road and I can relate to other people. Post your experiences if you will, please.

As a side note, she knows she can get file this "family contribute" on her taxes and she knows it's a grant for me towards college.

I'm sure I've seen the page you described. The one about students and their unwilling parents. How to try and talk them into helping you with FAFSA and stuff.

She's beyond reasoning. Let's get that fact straight.

The FAFSA is a federal application and will need to be filled out if you go to your moms "dream school" whatever.... yes, she has to provide her tax and asset information on it and while you are at it, I would get copies of her tax forms (and your Step-Dad's if you have one) and keep them in case the financial aid office from another school (you can list up to 10 schools on the fafsa) you decide to "change your mind" and attend asks for your moms tax info. (Warning: this will only work for one year, you would still need her tax info when you do your fafsa the next year).

Yes you can fill out the fafsa with 'estimated' info, but it is just that.. estimated and unless you correct this wrong info with accurate ones, to me it's just a waste of time. Why do it twice if you don't have to. Yes, you would need an electronic signture from her too.

The maxamum Stafford Loan you can recieve as a dependent freshman is 5,500 a year. So, if you choose a college that costs less than that, yes it could pay for all your education. You will not need any cosigner or money from Mom if your school is less than this amount, or you could go to a slightly more expensive school if your Mom is poor and you get federal and state grants instead or in additon to the loan. I would avoid loans your first two years if at all possible.

The requirements to NOT list the folks income is age 24 and over, married, have kids you support, be a veteran, have a bachelors degree, be a ward of the court or a couple of other things.

Read this book cover to cover... there is even a section on what to say to the folks if they refuse to provide. You might want to tell her that her providing her tax info is not a commitment on her to pay for your school... quite the contrary, by providing it she is allowing you to apply for free GRANT money and take out a student loan in your name (without her as a cosigner) without having to rely on her to pay for your schooling at all.

I wouldn't depend on anyone else ether but try a school thats not so expensive or go to a college that have dorms on campus and see if you can do some thing that way.Just trying to help

Your going to have to file Independent on your fafsa form. Filing independent also means that your parents cannot claim you on their taxes. In order to file independent you are going to have to file taxes. Being independent will help you receive more money in financial aid through fafsa. Fafsa may or may not pay for all of your tuition. Your financial aid office will determine that. You might have to take out a loan and one trusted company is sallie mae. I understand your frustration but keep your head up. You might also want to look into scholarships. Ask your financial aid office about possible grants and scholarships.