Do Both Parents Fill Out FAFSA If Married?

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly known as the FAFSA, serves as a gateway to various forms of financial assistance for higher education. This application collects detailed financial information from students and, if applicable, their parents, to determine eligibility for federal grants, scholarships, work-study programs, and federal student loans. A frequent inquiry among applicants and their families concerns the reporting requirements for married parents.

Defining “Parent” for FAFSA Purposes

The Department of Education employs a specific definition of “parent” for FAFSA purposes, which may differ from a general understanding. A FAFSA parent refers to a biological or adoptive parent. This definition determines whose financial information must be included on the application.

Stepparents are also considered FAFSA parents if they are married to the biological or adoptive parent whose information is reported. Their financial details, including income and assets, must be included, regardless of their legal relationship with the student. Grandparents, legal guardians, or foster parents are not considered FAFSA parents unless they have legally adopted the student.

Gathering Financial Information for Married Parents

For married parents, the FAFSA requires the financial information of both individuals. This ensures an accurate assessment of the family’s financial strength and ability to contribute to educational expenses.

Financial details required from both parents include their Adjusted Gross Income (AGI), found on their federal income tax returns. Untaxed income, such as child support received or untaxed portions of pensions, must also be reported. The FAFSA also requests information on assets, which encompass cash, savings, checking accounts, and investments. However, the equity in a family’s primary residence is excluded from this calculation.

The FAFSA utilizes the “prior-prior year” rule for tax data. For the 2025-2026 FAFSA, applicants report income information from their 2023 tax returns. If married parents file taxes jointly, their combined income and asset information is used directly from that single return. If married parents file separate tax returns, the financial data from both individual returns must be combined and reported collectively on the FAFSA.

Addressing Special Situations for Married Parents

Certain situations involving married parents can affect how their financial information is reported on the FAFSA. When parents are married but separated and do not live together, only the financial information of the parent with whom the student lived for more than 50% of the 12 months prior to filing the FAFSA is required. For FAFSA purposes, “separated” refers to not living together, irrespective of any legal separation status.

Same-sex married parents are treated identically to opposite-sex married parents under FAFSA guidelines. Both parents’ financial information must be provided on the application.

If a parent whose financial information is required refuses to provide it, the student becomes ineligible for federal student aid. The FAFSA process requires financial data from all applicable parents to determine aid eligibility, ensuring fairness in federal fund distribution.

Submitting Parent Financial Information

After gathering financial data from both married parents, this information is entered into the “Parent Demographics” and “Parent Financial Information” sections of the FAFSA form. This can be completed either online or through a paper application. Accurate data entry is important to avoid delays or errors.

Both the student and one parent must sign the FAFSA to complete the submission process. For online submissions, this involves using their respective FSA IDs, which serve as electronic signatures. If submitting a paper form, physical signatures are required from both the student and one parent.

Upon successful submission, the applicant will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR), which summarizes the information provided on the FAFSA. This report allows applicants to review their data for accuracy and make any necessary corrections. The FAFSA information is then transmitted to the colleges listed on the application, enabling them to determine the student’s eligibility for various financial aid programs.