You are an independent, for FAFSA purposes, if you were born on or before Dec. 31 of the filing year. For example, your birthday should be before Jan. 1, 1987, if you are applying for the 2010-2011 academic year.
You are considered an independent if both of your parents died or if you had foster parents or you were a ward of the court any time after you turned 13 years old.
You must be or have been recognized as an emancipated minor by a court in your state in order to meet this requirement for being considered independent.
You are independent for FAFSA purposes if you are recognized as a legal guardian by a court in your state.
You are an independent if you are currently serving in the U.S. Armed Forces (training does not count) or you are a "veteran" who participated in a U.S. service academy. However, you are not eligible if you were discharged for dishonorable reasons.
At the start of the school year for which you're applying, you must have completed your undergraduate education and be pursuing a master's or doctoral degree.
You are considered an independent if you were married the day you finished the FAFSA. If you are separated and not divorced at the time of application, you are still considered married.
If you provide more than half of your children's support between the dates of July 1 of the filing year to June 30 of the following year, you are considered an independent. In addition, if you have legal dependents who share your residence (not including spouses or children) and you provide more than half of their support from now through June 30 of the following year, you are also considered an independent.
You are an independent if your high school, district homeless representative, representative of an emergency shelter program under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, or representative of a youth center or transitional living program determined you were an unaccompanied minor with no home. The representative of the youth center or transitional living program can also vouch that you worked for yourself and had potential to become homeless.
If you do not meet any of the requirements previously stated, you can explain your circumstance to a financial aid administrator and he will have the authority to accept or deny a request for independent status. However, you must provide documented proof to your financial aid administrator that shows why you should be considered an independent.