Emancipation of 20 Year Old in Indiana

My question involves emancipation laws for the State of: Indiana

Can a 20 year old become emancipated from his parents in Indiana? A college student who recently became a U.S. citizen would like to become emancipated from his parents who are Legal Permanent Residents. He is an honorable young man who is trying to build an honest, solid future, but he is tied to using his parents income tax reports when he files his application for federal and state student financial aid. Unfortunately, his parents are not honest when filing their income taxes, and he cannot control what they choose to do when filing their taxes. The current laws in Indiana require students to use their parents income tax forms until they are 24 unless they are emancipated, married, etc. He does not live with them, and he supports himself, and he wants to be freed from the way they conduct their business, and be solely responsible for his own actions, which are respectable.

Can, and if so how, can he go about getting this process going in Indiana?

You would talk to the financial aid department at your school.

However, I wouldn't count on much.

He needs to go to the financial aid office of his school and ask about filing for a dependency override, but that doesn't give any guarantees either.

The following situations are not valid in themselves to claim independency:

You do not reside with your parents.Your parents refuse to pay for your college education.
Your parents are not financially able to pay for your education.
You were married after you applied for financial aid.
You do not want your parents’ assistance and have decided to pay for your own college education.

Quote:

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Quoting FlyinHawk®

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He needs to go to the financial aid office of his school and ask about filing for a dependency override, but that doesn't give any guarantees either.

The following situations are not valid in themselves to claim independency:

You do not reside with your parents.Your parents refuse to pay for your college education.
Your parents are not financially able to pay for your education.
You were married after you applied for financial aid.
You do not want your parents’ assistance and have decided to pay for your own college education.

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Great info Flying...do you happen to know what DOES count as valid and can you offer any assistance as to what someone in this sitation should do? One of my employees is in a similar situation, I'd like to help her out but I have no idea how to.

This is a good link that does explain what doesn't count as valid and what does and explanations of it.

http://www.finaid.org/educators/pj/d...verrides.phtml

Best thing for your employee to do is to go to the financial aid office of the school she wishes to attend and they will be able to help her out, they will be able to say if she qualifies and if any proof is needed what she would need.

He is unable to qualify for the Dependent Override because he has to show proof of various criteria. His family actually falls within the poverty level, but in addition to that, his parents are not honest on their taxes. They do not even claim him as a dependent because as their tax preparer told them - they don't need to. They don't make enough to pay taxes anyway. He has tried to get them to understand that they could get into trouble, and that they are putting his future in jeopardy, but they get advice from others and they seem to think it is fine to risk his future. If he could show emancipation from them, he could file the FAFSA form independently of them; but emancipation is typically for minor children not adult children, but when an adult child needs to be emancipated for these reasons, can he be? I'm trying to avoid attorneys fees for an answer of this question, and he can't afford an attorney.

Emancipation is not recognized for Financial aid. His best bet is to talk to someone at the financial aid office of the school, bring in all documentation that he can, his tax information, his living information and proof that he is supporting himself and that his family doesn't contribute. They will be able to figure what he would qualify for and will be able to guide him in the direction to get funding.

Hi yes. I am in this same situation almost. I am 19 years old and I have kicked out of my parents home and they want nothing to do with me. I have been living with a friend and his family ever since I was removed from my home until I go off to a bigger school next fall and I am currently going to a community college. I filed myself for the FAFSA and put myself as homeless but for some reason its still wanting my parents info which I cannot retrieve. And I have recently heard that FAFSA can still add my parents income and so forth even if I claim myself as homeless. So the only thing I know to do is to emancipate myself. What should I do??

You are already legally emancipated.

Emancipation is not, was not, and never will be meant to increase your college financial aid. It is meant for MINOR CHILDREN who find themselves in the extraordinary circumstance of supporting themselves 100% and needing to be able to enter into contracts in order to keep their homes and sometimes care for younger siblings.

You're an adult now, and responsible for your own tuition. If your parents will not comply with FAFSA, your choices are work and go to school as much as you can afford, or delay matriculation until the age of 24, when FAFSA no longer cares about your parents' income.

Sometimes he can be considered an "independent" in school situations. Where I am from you have to answer questions regarding how you support yourself. If your parents help you monetarily, etc.
I was considered an independent student, but I still had to report my mothers earnings. I did this until I got married two years ago (I'm 23). Now I must include my husbands earnings along with mine.
But on the other hand, my older brother had to report our parents' income until he was 24. I think it all depends on the school.
But I seriously think he is SOL...