Has anyone done this? I really need money for school and I guarantee my dad could pay for it.

The problem is tracking him down and then once I've done that I'd have to figure out how to ask for the money.

Eh, is there any way you can take out a loan? Or get other financial aid?
Usually getting money from an estranged parent doesn't work. Are you an incoming freshman? You probably don't want to hear this, but would you consider going to community college for an associates degree before transferring to a larger university? A local school is WAY cheaper than a university, in-state or out-of-state, and you would get the same prerequisites unless you get some obscure degree.

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Yea, I agree. It's better to bite the bullet..take out your own loans...and pay for it yourself. Believe me, when you finish you will feel a sense of accomplishment like no other.

Sad to say but if he's estranged he most likely has a reason for being so....so I doubt he would give you a single red penny.

Don't worry my dad's a piece of shit too. Most are.

My Aunt married a guy who left his wife and family of three young kids to marry her when he was 28. He stopped making regular child support payments, and got away with it for years. Finally when he was cornered by his very controlling mother, he promised to put them through college to make up for not financially supporting them the entire time they were growing up. He didn't come through on this promise, so his wealthy mother paid for their college educations and left him with nothing in her very substantial will when she died. What hurt this phoney Uncle the most was that his mother chose a son-in-law to be the executor of her estate. That was a good lesson for the financial planner expert that my Aunt's husband bragged to be. The Mother had helped her deadbeat son during his life with money for investments but gave his nice inheritence as an only child to her grandchildren instead. That seemed very fair to me, and a fine definition of family Karma.

The possible point of this little true family story is that maybe you have a way to reach out to your estranged father through one of his parents or close relatives or associates or friends he is in contact with and respects and listens too. If so, I would try talking to that person to explain your need for money for college and see if they would put a bug in his estranged ear for you. There is nothing to lose by going this route. I've heard of this working in a couple of other cases as well. It worked in our family by our "Uncle's" children bypassing him and going to the source of the family money to get their own university financial support without having to deal with an estranged person who didn't care to keep his promises to his kids and mother, nor follow through on his responsibilities.

same here. i'm still waiting for my 21st birthday money (which he promised me 2 years ago) six months later and then has the nerve to call me and ask ME for a 20 quid loan. i could've given him it easy enough, but considering not only am i waiting on my bday money, every time he's asked me to go for a pint with him i'm always expected to pay, not a fucking chance. dead beat dads are great aren't they?