My stepdaughter is applying for college. She lives with her mother, who hates us and only speaks with us when she wants money. We have not been consulted on any details of her college plan, and don't plan on contributing anything towards it (she'll be over 18 by then, and we cannot afford it. Suggestions about her commuting to school to save money have been met with a firm "no, I'm doing what I want". I will be following the same plan for my bio daughter. If you want to go college, you earn it and do it the smartest way possible. Being tens of thousands of dollars in debt is no fun).

She's filling out the common application and is asking for my information (employer, college, highest degree attained). Quite frankly, I don't want her mother having access to that information. Is this required in the common app? I'm pretty sure the fafsa will only want her mother and stepdads info, since she lives with them.

My biggest fear is that her mom is going to sign them up for a ton of debt and then come after us to fund it. Their divorce agreement is worded that support ceases when the kids each turn 18.