Legal Parent

[AJRetAFSF]

I have not found this simple question answered....so here it is.  Turbo asks who are the "Legal Parents" of 2 of our kids. 1 child is my son full custody since age 7, now 19 in college lives at home and I am remarried as of 2 years ago. 2nd child is my wifes from her previous marriage same scenario. Turbo has 3 options, Wife & I, Wife or Me for both questions.  Seems to me with us having full custody we are Both Legal Parents. Help please, this term "Legal Parents" and not gaurdians or adopted parents is new to me. thanks

[Opus 17 · Accepted solution]

Legal parent includes stepparent, so the answer in your case is both of you for both children.

Legal parent means biological parent, adopted parent, stepparent, or foster parent (if placed by an authorized state agency). It doesn’t actually have anything to do with custody, there should be separate custody questions as well.  The dependent interview can get very complex because it has to cover all possible situations that are included in more than 10 pages of IRS publication 501.  It sounds like TurboTax has changed the interview slightly from the last time I reviewed the program (I don’t have dependents); I suppose I will have to review it again.

[AJRetAFSF]

I figured as much, thank you so much and for such a quick reply.  Also YES they did change that interview question area and thats why it threw me for a loop...usually I can figure out their vagueness lol   Have a great day 

AJ