Claiming a married parent as a dependent?

Hi All,

My wife and I are looking into claiming her mom as a dependent on our taxes. We cover most of her expenses and she doesn't have an income. I believe we meet all those requirements.

Now the curveball... she's legally separated but still married to my wife's father. They've been separated for ~30 years.

Question is... Are we still able to claim my wife's mom as a dependent even though she's married (but legally separated)? We all live in California if that makes a difference. Thanks in advance!

1151

Expert Alumni

Mar 17, 2024 8:25:51 AM

Assuming that all other qualifications are met, being married does not disqualify a person from being claimed as a dependent. The only rule regarding that is that she cannot file a joint return with her spouse.

TurboTax will walk you through all of the qualifications for someone to be claimed as a dependent on your return. In the meantime, take a look at the following TurboTax help article to learn more:

Who can I claim as my dependent?

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Claiming a married parent as a dependent?