Family Dynamics
What defines a familyPresented by:
Nathan R. Basford, Jr.
Florida State University
Driving Uncertainty into Opportunity
OBJECTIVES:
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How does society look at the family?
How do states look at the family today?
How does the Federal Government look at the family?
How does the Dept. of Ed. Define family/household members?
What is ahead for 2014-15?
How do we as financial aid professionals work with students and parents
when talking about the modern family?
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The Family
What defines a “family” today?
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Types of Families
• Traditional
• Single
• Other
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The Modern Family
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How do states look at the family today?
State Laws:
– Civil Unions – Civil unions provide legal recognition to the couples
relationship, provides legal rights similar to those accorded to spouses
– Domestic Partnerships – grant some or all state level spousal rights to
unmarried couples
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How do states look at the family today?
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How do states look at the family today?
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How does the Federal government look
at the family today?
• The Defense Of Marriage Act (DOMA)
• Supreme Court Decisions
* United States v. Windsor
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How does the Department of Education define
family – household members?
• A student/parent is considered “married” if the student/parent was legally
married in any domestic or foreign jurisdiction that recognizes that relationship
as a legal marriage, regardless of where the couple resides
• This determination applies to same sex or opposite sex couples. This
determination does not apply to domestic partnership, civil unions, or similar
formal relationships recognized under state law
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How does the Department of Education define
family – household members?
• If student marital status on the date the FAFSA was completed was “married”
they will need to provide spouse’s information regardless of gender
• If student is dependent and both biological and/or adoptive parents reside in the
same household, both parents’ information must be provided regardless of their
marital status or gender
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So what’s ahead for 2014-2015?
• FAFSA updated to accommodate same-sex
parental data for dependent students
• FAFSA updated to allow a new marital status of “unmarried” - this allows the
data for legal parents living in the same household to be collected, even if
unmarried
• Will lead to changes in how the family is viewed throughout the entire financial
aid system
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So what’s ahead for 2014-2015?
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So what’s ahead for 2014-2015?
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IRS Update
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Treasury and IRS Announce that all Legal Same-Sex marriages will be recognized
for federal tax purposes; Ruling provides certainty, benefits and protections under
the Federal Tax Law for Same-Sex Married Couples
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Revenue Ruling 2013-17 along with updated Frequently Asked Questions for samesex couples and updated FAQs for registered domestic partners and individuals in
civil unions are available on IRS.gov
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Financial Aid Professionals
Key to application of the new rules:
• Education
• Awareness
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Working with Families
You may see various family types other than those you are familiar with:
• Be sensitive
• You may have to ask for additional documentation in some cases to be able
to determine what the student/parent should be reporting
• You are not required to collect marital status documentation, however you
may if clarification is needed
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Working with Families
• Be sure to update your policies and procedures to take into account the
“modern family”
• Ensure frontline staff is adequately trained and is able to disseminate accurate
information
• Remember Marriage is not the same as domestic partnerships or civil unions
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Working with Families
• What have you seen?
• What do you think you will see?
• What have you done in preparation to deal with the changing landscape of the
family and in turn the definition of household members?
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Questions
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