Separated from my wife but had joint custody of my child and was also head of household so how do I file?

[bobby78332]

I supported my wife and stepchildren most of the year even though we were separated for five months in 2016. Does that qualify me as head of household? 

[Coleen3 · Accepted solution]

Here are the rules to be considered Head of Household.

You may be able to file as head of household if you meet all the following requirements.

1. You are unmarried or considered unmarried on the last day of the year. See Marital Status , earlier, and Considered Unmarried , later.
2. You paid more than half the cost of keeping up a home for the year.
3. A qualifying person lived with you in the home for more than half the year (except for temporary absences, such as school). However, if the qualifying person is your dependent parent, he or she doesn't have to live with you. See Special rule for parent , later, under Qualifying Person.