Should I answer questions about parents (FAFSA)? Forum

[Torres1893]

FAFSA considers me as independent, but it says I should answer questions about my parents if I'm going to be a law student. My dad is very hesitant in giving out his financial info. He gave me his taxes, which I was using to fill out the form, but now it wants to know how much he has in the bank. He doesn't really want to tell me and I don't want to know either.

Can I just answer no to answering questions about my parents? Or should I just do it since schools are going to want to know my parent's financial situation?

[Dcc617]

FAFSA considers me as independent, but it says I should answer questions about my parents if I'm going to be a law student. My dad is very hesitant in giving out his financial info. He gave me his taxes, which I was using to fill out the form, but now it wants to know how much he has in the bank. He doesn't really want to tell me and I don't want to know either.

Can I just answer no to answering questions about my parents? Or should I just do it since schools are going to want to know my parent's financial situation?

If you want need based aid a lot of schools require that info.

[cavalier1138]

As I recall, you generally give your parents' info on Need Access, but if you're considered an independent student, there's no need to provide their info on FAFSA, too. Schools that require parental info get it through Need Access.

[Torres1893]

FAFSA considers me as independent, but it says I should answer questions about my parents if I'm going to be a law student. My dad is very hesitant in giving out his financial info. He gave me his taxes, which I was using to fill out the form, but now it wants to know how much he has in the bank. He doesn't really want to tell me and I don't want to know either.

Can I just answer no to answering questions about my parents? Or should I just do it since schools are going to want to know my parent's financial situation?

If you want need based aid a lot of schools require that info.

I thought most schools only give out scholarships based on merit. That's what I read on here and heard at an LSAC forum financial workshop.

[cavalier1138]

FAFSA considers me as independent, but it says I should answer questions about my parents if I'm going to be a law student. My dad is very hesitant in giving out his financial info. He gave me his taxes, which I was using to fill out the form, but now it wants to know how much he has in the bank. He doesn't really want to tell me and I don't want to know either.

Can I just answer no to answering questions about my parents? Or should I just do it since schools are going to want to know my parent's financial situation?

If you want need based aid a lot of schools require that info.

I thought most schools only give out scholarships based on merit. That's what I read on here and heard at an LSAC forum financial workshop.

That is true. But if you want to be considered for need-based aid, most schools require parental info on the Need Access application (not FAFSA) to be considered for it. If you only want to be considered for merit aid, then you don't need to provide parental info as an independent student.