2009-2010 Definitions of Independent                                                        

If you can answer “YES” to ANY of the below questions, you should use the INDEPENDENT VERIFICATION WORKSHEET.

• Were you born before January 1, 1986?
• As of today, are you married? (Answer "Yes" if you are separated, but not divorced.)  “As of today” refers to the day that you sign your FAFSA
• At the beginning of the 2009-2010 school year, will you be working on a master's or doctorate program (such as an MA, MBA, MD, JD, PhD, EdD, or graduate certificate, etc.)?
• Are you currently serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces for purposes other than training?
• Are you a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces?
• Do you have children who will receive more than half of their support from you between July1, 2009 and June 30, 2010?
• Do you have dependents (other than your children or spouse) who live with you and who receive more than half of their support from you, now and through June 30, 2010?
• At any time since you turned age 13, were both your parents deceased, were you in foster care, or were you a dependent or ward of the court?
• Are you or were you an emancipated minor as determined by a court in your legal state of residence?
• Are you or were you in legal guardianship as determined by a court in your legal state of residence?
• At any time on or after July 1, 2008, did your high school or school district homeless liaison determine that you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless?
• At any time on or after July 1, 2008, did the director of an emergency shelter or transitional housing program funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development determine that you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless?

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