DEAR HARRIETTE: My son is going to college next year, and we are going to need financial aid to pay for tuition. We have known this for years, but my husband is dragging his feet. He hasn’t filed his income taxes for years. I’ve tried to get him to file with me, but he shrugs it off. It’s odd because he has a job and gets a W-2 form, but he is slow and stubborn. The paperwork can’t be completed without him, but I don’t think we are going to get it. Is there any way around him? I don’t want to deprive our son of this chance at a better life. -- Despite Dad, Milwaukee
DEAR DESPITE DAD: If your husband is unwilling to file his taxes, your son will not be able to fill out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) forms to be considered for federal aid. The rules are strict. Your son may be able to apply for academic scholarships that are not based on need. The alternative is to wait until your son turns 24. Then he will be considered legally independent, and he can apply for financial aid on his own. For more information, see https://fafsa.ed.gov/.