I have a question regarding the claiming of a child as an independent. My wife is divorced from her ex husband and they have a custody agreement when they each claim a child at tax time. He has stopped working, and stopped playing child support. He has stated he is not paying his taxes this year as well, all to avoid his taxes being taken for back child support (I know, it gets better). He is having his current wife, claim the child as a dependent on her taxes and they are not filing jointly. My wife and her ex have split custody but the kids live with us. Is this okay that she claims the child as a dependent and she is not even the mother of the child? We aren't looking to claim the child but if he is not filing his takes jointly or independently, how is she allowed to claim the child?
