FAFSA Ward of the Court Status

You reported on your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) you were a ward of the court when you were age 13 or older.

To confirm this status, submit a copy of your court documentation.

Acceptable documents can include:

  • Form 10-24 Order of Disposition
  • Review of the Status of Child Freed for Adoption
  • Physically signed letter from your Social Worker, Probation Officer or ILP Coordinator that includes the following:
    • Name
    • Date of birth
    • State ID#
    • Emancipation Date
    • Welfare & Institution Code (WIC)

PLEASE NOTE: For federal student aid purposes, someone who is incarcerated is not considered a ward of the court. In some states, the court may impose its authority over a juvenile who remains in the legal custody of his/her parents. If either of these circumstances apply to you, you will need to correct your FAFSA as you do not qualify as a ward of the court.

If you do not qualify as a ward of the court or this does not apply to you, you must correct your FAFSA:

  • Log into studentaid.gov using your FSA ID and password.
  • Access your FAFSA through your Dashboard page.
  • Click to “Make Corrections.”
  • In the “Personal Circumstances” section of the FAFSA, you will need to uncheck the option indicating “At any time since the student turned 13, they were a ward of the court.”
  • Invite your parent(s) to provide their consent, information, and signature on their portion of the FAFSA.
  • Sign and submit your corrected FAFSA. Our office will receive it within 2-3 days of it being submitted.

Need Help?

If there are other circumstances that prevent you from contacting your parents or prevent your parents from providing their information and you would like to meet with a Financial Aid Advisor, you can schedule an appointment with us. 

Schedule an Appointment