UPDATE: We got it working! You were all right - my daughter had to specifically invite him as a contributor through her account. The invitation email went to his spam folder (of course), but once he found it and clicked the link, he could access her application. Thanks everyone for your help!

So glad you got it sorted out! This is such a helpful thread - I'm bookmarking it for when my younger son starts his FAFSA next year. The spam folder thing is so typical too. It's crazy how unintuitive the new FAFSA system is compared to the old one. At least now other parents dealing with this same issue will have all these great troubleshooting steps in one place!

Just wanted to add another perspective here - I work at a college financial aid office and see this question come up frequently. The "expensive lawn ornaments" comment made me smile because that's exactly how many families describe their hobby farms! One thing to keep in mind is that even if you put $0 now (which sounds correct for your situation), if your circumstances change in future years - like if you start actually making a profit or expand the operation significantly - you'll need to reassess how to report it. The FAFSA is filed annually, so each year you evaluate based on your current situation. Also, don't stress too much about verification if it happens. We understand that farm reporting can be confusing, and as long as you can explain your reasoning with documentation (which it sounds like you can), you'll be fine. The goal isn't to "catch" families making mistakes - it's to ensure accuracy.

I'm new to this whole FAFSA process and this thread has been incredibly helpful! My family has a similar situation - we have 8 acres with some goats and chickens, and we've been losing money on it for the past three years. Reading through everyone's experiences, it sounds like since it's part of our primary residence and definitely not profitable, we should report $0 as well. One question though - do we need to worry about the land value being high even if the farm operation isn't profitable? Our property has increased in value over the years just due to the real estate market, but the actual farming part is definitely a money pit. From what I'm understanding, as long as it's our primary residence, the land value doesn't matter for this FAFSA question? Also really appreciate @Amelia Martinez sharing the financial aid office perspective - makes me feel less anxious about potentially getting this wrong!

I'm a financial aid counselor, and I see this situation frequently. To clarify some confusion in this thread: 1. You CANNOT just delete and restart the FAFSA without consequences. The system tracks applications by SSN. 2. A "dependency override" is NOT what you need. That's for students who are independent from ALL parents. 3. What you need is a "non-custodial parent waiver" or "professional judgment review" at each school. 4. You should still complete the FAFSA with your information only, but be prepared to provide documentation to each school. 5. Your daughter's initial SAI will likely be incorrect until schools process your special circumstances request. Be persistent and start this process immediately after submitting the FAFSA. Good luck!

I went through this exact situation with my son two years ago! His father disappeared when he was 12 and we had no way to contact him for FAFSA info. Here's what worked for us: 1. Complete the FAFSA with only your information - leave his father's section blank where possible 2. Immediately after submitting, email ALL the financial aid offices at your daughter's schools explaining the situation 3. Ask each school for their "Special Circumstances" or "Professional Judgment" form 4. Gather ALL documentation showing he doesn't contribute: bank statements, any custody paperwork, proof of no child support, etc. The most important thing is TIMING - start this process right after you submit the FAFSA because it can take 4-6 weeks for schools to review. My son ended up getting great aid packages once the schools processed our appeals. Don't give up! The system is frustrating but there ARE ways around uncooperative parents.

One more thing I should mention - make sure your daughter completes the 2025-2026 FAFSA as early as possible next year (it opens in December 2024). Many grants are first-come, first-served, so if her father does provide information next year, submitting early will give her the best chance at maximum aid. Also, she should reach out to her school's financial aid office about emergency grants or scholarship opportunities specifically for students with limited financial support. Many schools have funds set aside for situations exactly like this that don't appear on the standard financial aid offer.

I'm so sorry you're going through this - it's heartbreaking when parents make their children's education more difficult. As someone who went through a similar situation, I wanted to share that there might be hope even if the dependency override doesn't work out. Have you looked into your state's grant programs? Many states have their own financial aid that doesn't always require the same parental information as federal aid, or they have different criteria for dependency. Also, your daughter should definitely apply for private scholarships - many of them focus on merit, community service, or specific circumstances like being a first-generation college student, and don't consider parental cooperation at all. The fact that she's maintaining a 3.8 GPA while working part-time shows incredible determination. Make sure she knows this isn't her fault and that there are people rooting for her success. Sometimes the path is just more complicated than it should be.

UPDATE: I just tried logging in without confirming my email and it worked! I'm able to continue with the application. Thanks for that tip - would have kept waiting otherwise!

For those looking for comprehensive FAFSA tutorials, I highly recommend checking out your state's 529 plan website. Many states have excellent parent-focused FAFSA guides that are more detailed than federal resources. For example, New York's 529 site has step-by-step videos that cover complex scenarios like business ownership and investment properties. Also, if you're still struggling with the business reporting after watching videos, consider scheduling a free consultation with a fee-only financial planner who specializes in college funding. Many offer 30-minute sessions specifically for FAFSA questions. The National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) has a directory where you can find qualified planners in your area. Good luck with your daughter's application!