Based on what you posted in sounds as if you qualified as Head of Household on a federal tax return.
See this TurboTax support FAQ for Head of Household - https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/tax-filing-status/qualify-head-household...
What reason did the state give you for denying Head of Household filing status on the California tax return?
