Is divorce proof of independence on taxes?

Question

Actually my question is this :

My friend is offered a "free ride" to a private school. All they need is her proof of independence from her parents, which means a few years worth of tax returns from both her parents and herself.

Her only problem is she's unwilling or unable to talk to her parents to get such paperwork.

So the question is, what other way can she prove her independence? I think subpoena is overkill, but can she have a divorce/emancipate from her parents? Is there anything you can do to show you don't live with them (far away), thus independent?

Ok, she does already have virtually everything financially in another state than her parents (for any practical purpose, it can be proven), what's to stop her parents from still claiming her dependent?

So, what would be a way to convince financial aid people to approve her loan or grant if she can't present her parent's tax returns?

She has no problem showing her own tax returns, but both parties (her parents and herself) seem to be required. Yes, I understand nothing is retroactive, if emancipation works for the future few years, it'd help her too (ridiculous though to do so instead of asking her parents for the papers, I wonder if they have a price).

Answer 1

Basically, the only real way to prove her independence from her parents is the tax returns. They would show that she is not a dependent of her parents, as she would not be listed as a dependent on the parents return, and her own return would show that she is able to claim herself. There's no other way.

Answer 2

You can't "divorce" parents - divorce is only for spouses. There is such a thing as legal emancipation from parents, but it wouldn't be retroactive so wouldn't help anyway in this situation - they're asking about the LAST few years, not future years.

If she can't get the documentation they ask for, she might be out of luck. She could talk to them and see if they'll accept just her returns, showing she claimed herself.

Answer 3

If they're requiring copies of her parents' tax returns as part of the proof of her claim of independence she has no option but to ask her parents for them.

A subpoena isn't likely to help; her parents could probably quash that fairly easily if they wanted to play hardball.

The above poster's suggestions should suffice as proof of who paid the bills. If that's not sufficient and her parents are not willing to hand over copies of their tax returns (or she's not got the guts to ask) then she may well lose out on the offer.

Answer 4

Bank account in another city.

Job in another city.

Lease for an apartment.

Utility bills in her name and a history of paying them.

Witnesses that testify for her that she doesn't live with her parents.