Review the criteria for independent students on the FAFSA online form. An applicant is automatically considered to be independent if he is in any of the following categories: enrolling in a graduate program such as for master's or doctoral degrees; has a legal dependent, typically a child; is married; is orphaned; was a ward of the state until the age of 18; is over the age of 24; is a military veteran; was in foster care after the age of 13; is an emancipated minor; or is homeless. If the applicant is in any of those categories, he should check the "independent student" option on the FAFSA and list her own tax information on the form. Otherwise, the applicant should select "dependent student" and list parental tax information. Submit the form.
Contact the college or university to which the FAFSA will be forwarded and request a Dependency Override Form. This allows the institution to overlook the parental information given on the FAFSA due to extenuating circumstances that result in the student not receiving financial support for education from his family.
Submit the Dependency Override Form to the college or university, along with third-party documentation from an authoritative person outside of the family who can attest to the extenuating circumstances prohibiting parental financial involvement in the applicant's education. These letters are typically composed by social workers, psychologists or clergy.