Revised 1-2020
2020-2021 Foster Care/Legal Guardianship/Emancipated/
Unaccompanied Homeless Youth
Please check the box that pertains to your situation. Under each box is the required documentation needed to
complete your financial aid file.
At any time since you turned age 13 (Q53)
You had no living parent (biological or adoptive) even if you are now adopted
* Copy of both Parents’ death certificates
You were in foster care, even if you are no longer in foster care today
* Legal foster care documentation
You were a dependent or ward of the court, even if you are no longer a dependent or ward of the court
today. For federal student aid purposes, someone who is incarcerated is not considered a ward of the
court
* Legal court documentation
If you are not sure if you were in foster care, check with your state child welfare agency. You can find
that agency’s contact information at childwelfare.gov/nfcad.
Are you or were you an emancipated minor as determined by a court in your state of legal residence?
(Q54) –
Yes – If you can provide a copy of a court’s decision that as of today you are an emancipated minor
or
Provide a copy of a court’s decision that you were an emancipated minor immediately before you
reached the age of being an adult in your state. The court must be located in your state of legal
residence at the time the court’s decision was issued.
* Legal court documentation
No – If you are still a minor and a court decision is no longer in effect or the court decision was not in
effect at the time you became an adult. Also answer ‘No” if custody was awarded by the courts
and the court papers say “custody” (not “guardianship”).
Are you or were you in legal guardianship as determined by a court in your state of legal residence?
(Q55) The definition of legal guardianship does not include your parents, even if they were appointed by a court
to be your guardians. You are also not considered a legal guardian of yourself.
Yes – If you can provide a copy of a court’s decision that as of today you are in legal guardianship
or
Provide a copy of a court’s decision that you were in legal guardianship immediately before you
reached the age of being an adult in your state. The court must be located in your state of legal
residence at the time the court’s decision was issued.
* Legal court documentation
No – If you are still a minor and a court decision is no longer in effect or the court decision was not in
effect at the time you became an adult.
Revised 1-2020
At any time on or after July 1, 2018, did your high school or school district homeless liaison determine
that you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless or were self-supporting and at risk of being
homeless? (Q56)
Yes – If you received a determination at any time on or after July 1, 2018, that you were an
Unaccompanied youth who was homeless or at risk of being homeless.
* Determination letter from the school district or homeless liaison on official letterhead
No – If you are not homeless, at risk of being homeless or if you do not have a determination
At any time on or after July 1, 2018, 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 or self-supporting and at risk of being homeless? (Q57)
Yes – If you received a determination at any time on or after July 1, 2018, that you were an
Unaccompanied youth who was homeless
* Determination letter from a qualified emergency shelter director on official letterhead
No – If you are not homeless, at risk of being homeless or if you do not have a determination
At any time on or after July 1, 2018, did the director of a runaway or homeless youth basic center or
transitional living program determine that you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless or
were self-supporting and at risk of being homeless? (Q58)
Yes – If you received a determination at any time on or after July 1, 2018, that you were an
Unaccompanied youth who was homeless or at risk of being homeless
* Determination letter from one of the above listed programs on official letterhead
No – If you are not homeless, at risk of being homeless or if you do not have a determination
“Homeless” means lacking fixed, regular and adequate housing, which includes living in shelters, parks,
motels, hotels, public spaces, camping grounds, cars, abandoned buildings, or temporarily living with other
people because you had nowhere else to go. Also, if you are living in any of these situations and fleeing an
abusive parent you may be considered homeless even if your parent would provide support and a place to live.
“Unaccompaniedmeans you are not living in the physical custody of your parent or guardian.
However, even if you answer “No” to each of questions 56, 57, and 58, you should contact the financial
aid administrator at CMC if you are under 24 years of age.