[renedrake]

My daughter is the custodial parent. Her and her son, my grandson live with me and do NOT get financial child support for my grandson's father. The father is involved in my gandson's life in that he has him every other weekend and occasionally during the week. He pays part of a 2 day preschool.

This year he thinks he should be able to claim my grandson on his taxes as a dependent.

It seems to me that since I claim my daughter (under 24 and in school) that we should also claim out grandson. He lives here without any financial support. Why would the baby daddy get to take advantage of tax deductions when I, his grandmother pay the mortgage, utilities, insurance, cell phone etc.

Frustrated Nana

[ma0641]

Daughter divorced? What does the settlement say?

[joypulv]

The father cannot claim the child unless the mother lets him, in writing. She has him more than half the time. You can claim the child under "Member of Household or Relationship Test" sub category "Relatives Who do not Have to Live With You." (Not live with you FULL TIME, because he spends part time with his father.) I assume that your daughter isn't working?

This is all under Qualifying Child in the IRS booklet. It goes on for pages and is complicated. You might want to pay a small fee to a tax preparer to put this in writing. The 'baby daddy' of course can retaliate by refusing to pay for pre-school. Was it court ordered? Just be forewarned, it doesn't always work out well financially, so pick your battles carefully.