Documentation Requirements: You Cannot Provide Required Parental Information

Parental information is required unless you are estranged from your parent(s) due to documented mental, physical, sexual, and/or emotional abuse or drug or alcohol addiction.

If one or more of these situations applies to you, you will be required to submit the following written documentation to your financial aid office:

• Documentation from one or more professional third parties directly involved with your situation. This can include court or police reports, reports from a social worker/social service agency, and/or medical professional (e.g., your physician, psychologist, psychiatrist or counsellor). If a professional third party was not involved, written documentation from other reliable third parties who were directly involved with the situation (e.g., siblings, grandparents, other relatives) is required. The third party must sign and date their documentation and provide their full name, address and daytime telephone number.
• A letter written by you detailing the reason why you are estranged from your parent(s). Your letter must include:
• The date of the final rift with parent(s).
• Any steps you have taken to correct the situation.
• Whether there is any possibility of reconciliation.
• If this estrangement involves both of your parents, you must provide the following:
• The date you left home and how you have supported yourself since leaving home.
• Proof of your separate residence (e.g., copy of a lease or rental agreement).

If you are receiving support under the Youth Without Shelter, Stay in School Program, you are only required to provide a letter from the program identifying that you are living in the shelter provided by the program and receiving basic living support while in school. 

A letter from your parent(s) is NOT required. However, in situations where you are estranged from only one of your parents, you may be asked to provide a letter from the parent who is not directly involved in the rift.

If you have any questions about the type of documentation required, contact your financial aid office for further information.