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Pete151
Returning Member

Mother of 6 died. We took in her 17-year-old. We did not become legal guardians. She is 18 and in college. Can we claim any of the expenses we have provided for her?

In November 2017, a mother of 6 children was in an automobile accident and lost her life. My husband and I took in one of the children---a 17-year-old. Because she would turn 18 years old in less than a year, we did make any attempt to become her legal guardian, foster parents, or to adopt her. We did not claim her on our 2017 income taxes. She is now 18 and a freshman in college. Can we claim any of the expenses we have provided for her?


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Coleen3
Intuit Alumni

Mother of 6 died. We took in her 17-year-old. We did not become legal guardians. She is 18 and in college. Can we claim any of the expenses we have provided for her?

If, in 2018, she meets the requirements, you can claim her as a dependent.

Qualifying Relative

You can claim a child, relative, friend, fiancé (etc.) as a dependent on your 2018 taxes as long as they meet all of the following requirements :

  • You provided more than half of their financial support. More info
  • They made less than $4,150 in gross income during 2018 unless they are a qualifying child.
  • They live with you or they are related to you. (Your relative must live at your residence all year or be on the list of “relatives who do not live with you” in Publication 501.) 
  • They are a U.S. citizen, resident alien, national, or a Canadian or Mexican resident.
  • They aren't (or won't be) claimed as a dependent by someone else.
  • They aren’t filing a joint return with their spouse.
  • You are not being claimed as a dependent on someone else's return.

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1 Reply
Coleen3
Intuit Alumni

Mother of 6 died. We took in her 17-year-old. We did not become legal guardians. She is 18 and in college. Can we claim any of the expenses we have provided for her?

If, in 2018, she meets the requirements, you can claim her as a dependent.

Qualifying Relative

You can claim a child, relative, friend, fiancé (etc.) as a dependent on your 2018 taxes as long as they meet all of the following requirements :

  • You provided more than half of their financial support. More info
  • They made less than $4,150 in gross income during 2018 unless they are a qualifying child.
  • They live with you or they are related to you. (Your relative must live at your residence all year or be on the list of “relatives who do not live with you” in Publication 501.) 
  • They are a U.S. citizen, resident alien, national, or a Canadian or Mexican resident.
  • They aren't (or won't be) claimed as a dependent by someone else.
  • They aren’t filing a joint return with their spouse.
  • You are not being claimed as a dependent on someone else's return.

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