Can I Become Emancipated at Age 21

My question involves emancipation laws for the State of: Washington.
My mother has never been in my life or supported me. I lived with my father in Oregon until I was 16. I moved out because my father was an alcoholic/drug addict and barely able to survive himself. I have been financially supporting myself since I was 16 and have the documentation to prove it. I never went through any legal matters when I moved out, I just moved out. I graduated high school while living in my own apartment and fully supporting myself. After I graduated I moved up to Washington State, where I continued working and living on my own. I am now 21 years old and want to attend college. First you have to fill out the FASFA. According to the FASFA I am not an independent adult. You either have to
a)be married
b)be legally emancipated
c)have a child
d)be age 24 or older
e)be in the army/military
f)both parents deceased
-FORTUNATELY none of those options apply to me! I contacted my father and told him that I have to put his information on the FASFA application. My father has not filed taxes for years (he can't remember the last time!) He just started his own "business" about 3 years ago. He is not going to file taxes. The information he gave me was a guess/estimate. The govm't is requiring more documentation to prove the informaion I put on my FASFA. I have all the information for myself. My dad will not file his taxes therefore does not have the info. There is no way my father would be able to help me financially with college, he is damn near living on the streets himself!
I feel if I am "considered" a dependent, than I am being severely neglected. MY RIGHT to an education is being taken away from me until I can claim one of the options mention earlier. I believe myself to be quite a responsible adult and I only want to get an education!
Is it too late to be emancipated? That seems like my only option. Does anyone know of any other options for me!? I don't want to hire a lawyer, to petition against my father in anyway. I just want an education before i'm 24 and w/out the marriage, baby, military!
Please any information anyone has for me would be helpful.
Warm Regards,
RS

You're an adult (and should have been capable of reading the stickied threads that you were instructed to read before posting). You will need to address your issues with the college financial aid office.

You're already legally emancipated.

Emancipation is for MINORS who find themselves in the position of needing to take care of themselves through no fault of their own. It is in no way intended for grown adults to nab more financial aid from the Federal government.

Additionally, you have no inherent legal right to a post-secondary education. If you cannot afford full-time tuition with whatever aid is available to you and a job to make ends meet, your options are to take whatever classes you can afford and attend part-time, or delay matriculation until the age of 24. Nothing requires that you matriculate now.

You can discuss other options with the financial aid department at your school. Emancipation is not an option, as it does not apply retroactively.

The FAFSA forms can be a little intimidating and confusing. That’s why most financial aid offices have someone who can sit down with you to complete the forms. But, what’s sad is that no one has given you the simple answer. You are only a dependent if one or both of your parents declare you as a dependent on their income taxes. Now, given that your father hasn’t filed income taxes, than he can’t declare you, and from what you say you have no relationship with your mother. So I doubt she declares you as an dependent and if she does then shes breaking the law because you have to be living with her, and/or receiving financial help from her; I doubt neither of which apply. Lastly, you can declare yourself an independent if you are living on your own, have worked at all or pay your own bills in the last year. Have you received any paychecks within the last year, even if its not enough or you didn’t file income tax? Or have you filed any income tax on any of the work you’ve done? I think one if not all would suffice as sufficient enough to be declared independent.

You said the government is requiring more documentation to prove the information on your FASFA. I wouldn’t worry too much about that. I’ve been in college for over 5 years (disabled, here) and I’ve been ‘randomly’ selected to supply more documentation because I don’t file taxes & I’m low-income. All I have to do is send in documentation of my social security & they’re fine with that. For you, since your case is unique, any pay stubs, checking account or even proof that you pay rent or utilities should work. I’ve even heard where parents writing in saying they do not support the child and do not plan to declare the child as a dependent has worked. This is especially the case when you’re probably required to submit the documentation to your college; am I correct?

Oh, and despite what “law researcher” stated, you ARE entitled and have the right to an education and to receiving federal aid. That’s what the money is there for, and in case “law researcher” has forgotten, our President stated just last year that it was each individuals right to receive an education and that more people should have access to the money that the government sets aside for individuals just like her. I actually think she should be highly commended. You would have her to just go get a job & worry about getting an education when she can afford it. Wouldn’t that be an oxymoron. No one can afford an education on a minimum wage job, and normally anyone who gets paid above minimum wage has a degree. Either way, not many people are getting jobs lately, with or without a degree. So, I don’t see anything wrong with this girl wanting to get an education on financial aid, and not trying to have babies or get on welfare. If only more people would follow suit.

Kim, if you don't know what you're talking about it's better to keep your mouth closed, rather than insulting people who know more than you do. There's no "right" to financial aid that trumps the law restricting who qualifies for financial aid and what evidence they must submit to qualify. There is no "right" whatsoever in this country to obtain a higher education - access is protected by anti-discrimination laws, but if you can't pay the tuition the school certainly doesn't have to take you.

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Quoting RSerna

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I am now 21 years old and want to attend college. First you have to fill out the FASFA.

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That is not true - you don't HAVE to fill out the FAFSA to attend college. The FAFSA is how you apply for federal student aid such as Pell grants and federally subsidized loans. The results are also sent to the schools that you tell them you are interested in so their own financial aid office can try to help you secure other funding at both the state on even private level so you can afford to go to school. HOWEVER - it is not MANDATORY!

You've already supported yourself for five years. There is no reason you can not continue to do so. A huge percentage of collage students also work full time while attending classes! Start with your local community college. Take classes online, in the evenings, etc. You'd be amazed how many classes you can work in to your schedule!
Get ALL of your prerequisites and general ed classes out of the way. This will save you a TON of money before you continue on, if you decide to transfer to a four year school to get a BS or BA - or even continue on to grad school.

I also suggest you sign up on this web site
http://www.fastweb.com/college-schol.../fwsite_header
I have received several scholarships thru organizations affiliated with this site.

Ur already a legal adult and can not b emancipated as described by others above. Although no one has a right to financial assistance, we all do have a right to b educated. It is extremely difficult to pay for ur own way through college and also to have enough money to live. It is wonderful that u r attempting to get ur foundation set in life before u try to go forward with a relationship/marriage/children. Without a foundation of a good education it is like attempting to build a house on the ground-- not very stable :-(
When u fill out ur FAFSA I do believe it asks if anyone else can claim u as a dependent. Since no one can claim u on their taxes, u do not need anyone else's tax information but ur own. I would definitely consult with a financial aid advisor at ur school. They should b able to answer all ur specific questions. If u still find that u can not attain financial aid, another alternative would b to join the military. U may even b able to join the Army Reserves or National Guard (depending on ur circumstances and their requirements). They will also help u pay for an education and assist with ur housing needs. Research all ur options and speak to the appropriate person(s) before making a commitment to anything- best of luck~