Is it worth filing married separately instead of joint for one of us to qualify for the child tax credit?

[reticulating]

If one of us makes income below the level to still qualify for the child tax credit for separate filing, is it worth the trouble opting out of the filing joint married in order to get it, or would any lost benefits from filing joint outweigh gaining that credit for the one of us who makes a lower enough amount for the child tax credit?

[Mike9241]

to get the credit  a married couple must file a joint return. the only exception to this is if all these tests are met

1) the taxpayer paid more than 1/2 the cost of keeping up the home for the year 

2) the spouses lived apart during the last six months of the year 

based on your post both of you would fail the last test and the lower income would probably fail the first 

so you can file separately but neither of you would qualify for the credit.