I found a similar case in the archives but the parties were able to work out an agreement. In the following case, two of the parties aren't even speaking.
19 year old Daughter of a single mom has an emergency wedding in June '14. Groom leaves his new Mom-in-law with 100% of her daughters upkeep and expenses, including housing, food, clothing, spending money, the wedding expenses and the weekend Bahamas honeymoon, as well as paying son-in-law's expenses for storing his personal belongings, his truck storage, etc. Son-in-law spends zero for any of this in spite of the fact he made more $$ in the following six months than Single Mom made the entire year. Then new Son-in Law returns in DEC '14, just in time for his baby's birth. Finally, groom contributes something. His medical insurance covered hospital expenses related to the birth. At that point, Single Mom picks up additional baby and Son-in-Law feeding and housing expenses for next two weeks, at which point Daughter, Son-in-Law, and new baby leave for a different state. And, at which time, single mom also contributes toward most of the moving expenses of all three.Now it's tax filing time. Single mom would like claim her daughter as a dependent. But new Son in law intends to file a joint return and will not consider husband/wife separate returns, which would allow single mom to claim her daughter. (at least I think that's the only way Single Mom can claim daughter).
There is no love lost between Single Mom and Son-in-law. So working something out between them is out of the question. They're not even speaking to each other. And yes, daughter is stuck in the middle and has zero influence over new hubby.
I'm assuming that if both Single Mom and Son-in-Law file the way each would like, the IRS will step in with a decision. To me, as an innocent bystander, it appears that Single Mom definitely deserves to claim her daughter but the IRS won't allow that unless the Son-in law and daughter file separately, which they won't (daughter is willing but has no say so in the decision). So son-in-law wins again.
Have I got that right? And if not, what can single mom can do about it?
Thanks in advance for any advice or opinions.