Back to FAFSA^® Guide 2025-26

How to answer basic parent information questions on the FAFSA^®

Have you been asked to complete the parent section of the FAFSA^®? Here’s a guide to help you fill out questions about the parent’s name and contact info, marriage status, and legal residence.

FAFSA^® student spouse information FAFSA^® parent household information

Parent identity and contact information

Why do they need this info?

As the parent of a dependent student, you need to provide financial and other info in the FAFSA^® for the student to be considered for financial aid.
The student’s other parent will need to provide their info in the Other Parent section (questions 42 and 43 on the paper version).

Can I skip these questions?

You can’t skip if your student is dependent. All of the following statements must be true for them to be considered dependent:

The student was born after the year 2001.
The student’s current marital status is Single (never married), Divorced, Separated or Widowed (question 3 on the FAFSA^® paper version).
The student’s college grade level will be first-year, second-year, or other undergraduate (question 4 on the FAFSA^® paper version).
They answered “None of these apply” to the Student Personal Circumstances question (question 5 on the FAFSA^® paper version).
They answered no to the Student Other Circumstances and Student Unusual Circumstances questions (questions 6 and 7 on the FAFSA^® paper version).

If any of the statements are not true, your student is independent, and no parent info will be needed from you.

How to answer these questions

Enter your name exactly as it appears on your Social Security card.
Enter your Social Security number and date of birth.
You only need to enter an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) if you do not have a Social Security number.
Enter your permanent home/mailing address.
Provide a phone number where you can be most easily reached. Don’t enter dashes.

Parent current marital status

Why do they need this info?

The FAFSA^® asks for the marriage status of the student’s biological parents to determine whose info should be reported in the FAFSA^® application.

Can I skip this question?

How to answer this question

Select Single (never married), Married (not separated), Remarried, Separated, Divorced, or Widowed, whichever one applies to you.

Parent state of legal residence

Why do they need this info?

Your answer may help your student get even more free college money from your state!
Your student’s FAFSA^® info may be shared with state agencies so your student can be considered for state aid programs, on top of any federal aid they may get.

Can I skip these questions?

How to answer these questions

Enter your state’s two-letter abbreviation, and the month and year when you became a state resident.
If you’ve lived in your state your entire life, enter your birth month and year.

What else should I know?

Students and parents usually need to have a year of residency in their state to be eligible for state financial aid.