Who should you put as a parent or guardian?
Everyone who is a legal guardian for the student applying will be listed here, whether they are from the same household or not.
What do you mean by legal first and last name?
When completing your Clarity application all names should match your IRS tax form.
If you are international and do not file a US IRS tax form, please use the legal name you are required to use for your tax documentation in the country you reside in.
What does primary phone number mean?
This means the phone number you would prefer to be your main point of contact should the school need to contact you about your application.
What is a household and who is the head of it?
When filling out Clarity, a household includes a home including a head-of-household, their taxable dependents, and a spouse if there is one. The head-of-household is a person who pays taxes, pays for more than 50% of the household expenses, and has at least 1 dependent that they claim taxes on.
What should I do if I am divorced?
If a spouse, stepparent, or partner lives in your household and helps care for any of the children on your application, list them as a guardian in your household.
All living biological parents are generally required to complete a Clarity application, even if they live in a separate household. If the other parent lives in your household, list them under your household. If you are divorced or separated and the other parent lives elsewhere, you’ll be able to list them as a separate household later in the application. They will need to complete a second application for their own household.
If your situation doesn’t fit this, contact Clarity Support so we can advise on the right path for your circumstances. For example, the other parent may not be part of your child’s life, their whereabouts may be unknown, or there may be safety or custody concerns.
If I am re-married, does my spouse count as a second guardian if the students listed on the application are not their biological children?
Yes, if you are re-married, your spouse must be listed as a second guardian on the application regardless of their relationship to the student applicants.
Who counts as a second parent or guardian?
A spouse, stepparent, or partner who lives in your household and helps care for any of the children on your application counts as a second guardian. This includes boyfriends, girlfriends, domestic partners, and significant others.
Other relatives who live with you, like a sibling or grandparent, are not listed as guardians unless they are a legal guardian of the student. You can explain other people in your home in the Other Considerations section.
I am remarried. Should my child’s step-parent be listed as a secondary guardian?
Yes.
I filed my taxes jointly with my ex-spouse. How do I complete tax verification?
If you and your ex-spouse now live in separate households, do not add them as a guardian in your household, and they do not need to sign your tax verification form.
Select the filing status you used on your tax return, complete tax verification for yourself, and submit your application. If your ex-spouse is your child's parent, they will submit their own application for their household. If any additional information or documents are needed, you will be notified.