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Jumping on with a question of my own: If my parents are divorced but split-custody (50-50), do I have the one who claims me as a dependent for taxes fill out custodial and the other one fill out non-custodial?

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midwest17 wrote:Jumping on with a question of my own: If my parents are divorced but split-custody (50-50), do I have the one who claims me as a dependent for taxes fill out custodial and the other one fill out non-custodial?

The second part of this seems to answer your question (From the Need Access FAQ):

"For Need Access, the main supporting parent, and stepparent if applicable, should complete the “Parent Form.” The other parent, and stepparent if applicable, should complete the “Non-custodial Parent Form.”

The main supporting parent is defined as the parent who the student lived with the most during the last 12 months. If the student didn’t live with either parent more than the other in the last 12 months, it is the parent that provided the most financial support during that time. If neither parent provided greater support during the last 12 months, it is the parent who most recently provided the greatest financial support."

Nonconsecutive wrote:

midwest17 wrote:Jumping on with a question of my own: If my parents are divorced but split-custody (50-50), do I have the one who claims me as a dependent for taxes fill out custodial and the other one fill out non-custodial?

The second part of this seems to answer your question (From the Need Access FAQ):

"For Need Access, the main supporting parent, and stepparent if applicable, should complete the “Parent Form.” The other parent, and stepparent if applicable, should complete the “Non-custodial Parent Form.”

The main supporting parent is defined as the parent who the student lived with the most during the last 12 months. If the student didn’t live with either parent more than the other in the last 12 months, it is the parent that provided the most financial support during that time. If neither parent provided greater support during the last 12 months, it is the parent who most recently provided the greatest financial support."

So per the legal divorce documents they pay exactly 50/50. And my understanding is that they've been pretty careful to make sure it stays this way, at least with the big expenses (college, etc). If there's a difference it's accidental and negligible. Since I'm in college now and really only spend vacations with them I'm sure I haven't spent an exactly equal number of days with each, but I'm also not really living with either. And it'd be a bitch and a half to try to actually calculate the number of days I've spent at each one's house in the past 12 months.

I might try to get in touch with the Need Access people to ask them.

I'll be a 2l by the time I'm done filling this thing out!

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Moonlight wrote:Wow your parents are meticulous then if they are literally 50/50. I'd give the school a call since they are the ones getting the forms ultimately.

I mean, if I go out to lunch with one of them they don't save the receipts and split it. But the major expenses are split evenly. To the extent anything's tracked it's split, so while I'm sure it's not literally 50/50 I wouldn't have any way of figuring out which one was more.

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Moonlight wrote:

midwest17 wrote:

Moonlight wrote:Wow your parents are meticulous then if they are literally 50/50. I'd give the school a call since they are the ones getting the forms ultimately.

I mean, if I go out to lunch with one of them they don't save the receipts and split it. But the major expenses are split evenly. To the extent anything's tracked it's split, so while I'm sure it's not literally 50/50 I wouldn't have any way of figuring out which one was more.

Right of course. I've been calling Hastings, but they go straight to Voicemail for some reason. Have you had that experience? Or unless you're not applying there.

Not applying to Hastings. Duke is the school that's currently asking for it, but I think I'll eventually have to send it to other schools if I get in.

Moonlight wrote:

midwest17 wrote:

Moonlight wrote:Wow your parents are meticulous then if they are literally 50/50. I'd give the school a call since they are the ones getting the forms ultimately.

I mean, if I go out to lunch with one of them they don't save the receipts and split it. But the major expenses are split evenly. To the extent anything's tracked it's split, so while I'm sure it's not literally 50/50 I wouldn't have any way of figuring out which one was more.

Right of course. I've been calling Hastings, but they go straight to Voicemail for some reason. Have you had that experience? Or unless you're not applying there.

Also applying to Hastings - any harm in waiting until a decision is rendered before filling this out? Hastings sent an email saying they'd like to get it before a decision is made, but I have no idea when that will be. I also feel like there may be more resources for admitted students for help filling this out than is available for regular applicants.

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Moonlight wrote:

bobloblaw0227 wrote:

Moonlight wrote:Wow your parents are meticulous then if they are literally 50/50. I'd give the school a call since they are the ones getting the forms ultimately.

Also applying to Hastings - any harm in waiting until a decision is rendered before filling this out? Hastings sent an email saying they'd like to get it before a decision is made, but I have no idea when that will be. I also feel like there may be more resources for admitted students for help filling this out than is available for regular applicants.

What do you mean? Like they're more willing to help admitted students fill it out? Or like they'll have more aid for them?

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I meant that they'd be more willing to help admitted students, whereas right now I've heard people can't even reach the admissions office by phone. My main question iss whether there is any harm in waiting until closer to the Need Access deadline to submit.

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Okay, have my own question, and this is probably even more basic than all the other questions so far, but...

If I submit my NeedAccess files later, would that affect my chances of getting scholarships? I got into NYU and it says that I have to submit a report through NeedAccess to be considered for scholarships, but I'm still waiting to hear back from HYSCC. Would it severely affect my chances if I wait to hear from the above schools, even if it probably won't be for at least another month? Also, once you've added the list of schools on NeedAccess, can you change that school list later??

Sorry for all the basic questions!!!

paperrev wrote:Okay, have my own question, and this is probably even more basic than all the other questions so far, but...

If I submit my NeedAccess files later, would that affect my chances of getting scholarships? I got into NYU and it says that I have to submit a report through NeedAccess to be considered for scholarships, but I'm still waiting to hear back from HYSCC. Would it severely affect my chances if I wait to hear from the above schools, even if it probably won't be for at least another month? Also, once you've added the list of schools on NeedAccess, can you change that school list later??

Sorry for all the basic questions!!!

IIRC, once you submit NA to the max number of schools, you can go back in, delete those schools off your list, and submit to all new schools. You don't have to wait for decisions.

And if you haven't hit the max number of schools, why are you waiting to hear from HYSCC to submit to NYU?

IIRC, once you submit NA to the max number of schools, you can go back in, delete those schools off your list, and submit to all new schools. You don't have to wait for decisions.

And if you haven't hit the max number of schools, why are you waiting to hear from HYSCC to submit to NYU?

Haha I guess it's a weird reason, but I guess I'd feel bad applying for scholarships and then not end up going. Weird applicant courtesy?

paperrev wrote:

IIRC, once you submit NA to the max number of schools, you can go back in, delete those schools off your list, and submit to all new schools. You don't have to wait for decisions.

And if you haven't hit the max number of schools, why are you waiting to hear from HYSCC to submit to NYU?

Haha I guess it's a weird reason, but I guess I'd feel bad applying for scholarships and then not end up going. Weird applicant courtesy?

That's a stupid reason. The money doesn't disappear if you don't go there; they give it to someone else.

Yup, true. Okay, so just to clarify, I can submit NeedAccess once and then submit it in to another school again?? Just trying to be cautious...

How much do 1L usually make during the summer? Obviously dependent on focus, but since need access asks for an estimate - what's the average?

Also, if we don't think our parents are going to give us any money, but they end up giving a few thousand dollars over the course of the year, is there a possibility of being faulted by the bar for that?

I don't want to overestimate the amount of help I may get to compensate for potential dishonesty, but I also don't want to overreport because there's a chance they may not give me anything.

Basically I am curious to what degree our estimations are taken seriously by outside sources, namely the bar.

gimmedanger wrote:How much do 1L usually make during the summer? Obviously dependent on focus, but since need access asks for an estimate - what's the average?

Also, if we don't think our parents are going to give us any money, but they end up giving a few thousand dollars over the course of the year, is there a possibility of being faulted by the bar for that?

I don't want to overestimate the amount of help I may get to compensate for potential dishonesty, but I also don't want to overreport because there's a chance they may not give me anything.

Basically I am curious to what degree our estimations are taken seriously by outside sources, namely the bar.

I'm actually curious about this as well

furrrman wrote:

gimmedanger wrote:How much do 1L usually make during the summer? Obviously dependent on focus, but since need access asks for an estimate - what's the average?

Also, if we don't think our parents are going to give us any money, but they end up giving a few thousand dollars over the course of the year, is there a possibility of being faulted by the bar for that?

I don't want to overestimate the amount of help I may get to compensate for potential dishonesty, but I also don't want to overreport because there's a chance they may not give me anything.

Basically I am curious to what degree our estimations are taken seriously by outside sources, namely the bar.

I'm actually curious about this as well

If you get a biglaw SA, you make 10-12 weeks or whatever of a first year associate's pay. It can be like $30k. Most people will not get one of these jobs.
Most other stuff is unpaid, or like $10/hr or something (government).

Your parents giving you a few thousand dollars is completely irrelevant. (It's not even taxable.)
Your estimates are given very little weight. It doesn't matter. It REALLY doesn't matter w/r/t the bar.

Thanks Rinkrat!

Moonlight wrote:Anyone started their Need Access?

If so, what do you do with the Non Custodial Parent data if you haven't spoken to that parent in almost ten years?

Also, are people waiting to do taxes first then the form or estimating first? I feel like it asks for a lot of repetitive data. Anyone else get that feel?

Also any advice from people who've done this form before?

I am asking all of my schools for an exemption from providing my non custodial parent's data. You can find info on how to do that on each school's website (you'll probably have to dig around a little), but most seem to involve sending in a letter as well as some documentation. Most will say that they only grant exemptions for extraordinary circumstance, which I believe I have. I got the same exemptions for undergrad, so hopefully law schools will be as understanding.

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