{"id":139014,"date":"2020-12-22T08:28:56","date_gmt":"2020-12-22T05:28:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/my-boyfriends-ex-wife-claimed-her-sons-as-dependents-and-got-their-stimulus-despite-losing-full-custody-what-can-we-do\/"},"modified":"2020-12-22T08:28:56","modified_gmt":"2020-12-22T05:28:56","slug":"my-boyfriends-ex-wife-claimed-her-sons-as-dependents-and-got-their-stimulus-despite-losing-full-custody-what-can-we-do","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/my-boyfriends-ex-wife-claimed-her-sons-as-dependents-and-got-their-stimulus-despite-losing-full-custody-what-can-we-do\/","title":{"rendered":"#\n  My boyfriend\u2019s ex-wife claimed her sons as dependents and got their stimulus, despite losing full custody. What can we do?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_84 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a231b6785223\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a231b6785223\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/my-boyfriends-ex-wife-claimed-her-sons-as-dependents-and-got-their-stimulus-despite-losing-full-custody-what-can-we-do\/#%E2%80%98The_mother_of_these_2_boys_lost_custody_through_the_Department_of_Homeland_Security_and_has_offered_no_support\" >\u2018The mother of these 2 boys lost custody through the Department of Homeland Security, and has offered no support\u2019<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/my-boyfriends-ex-wife-claimed-her-sons-as-dependents-and-got-their-stimulus-despite-losing-full-custody-what-can-we-do\/#Quentin_Fottrell\" >Quentin Fottrell<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p>&#8220;<strong>#<br \/>\n  My boyfriend\u2019s ex-wife claimed her sons as dependents and got their stimulus, despite losing full custody. What can we do?<br \/>\n<\/strong>&#8221;<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"article__subhead\" itemprop=\"alternativeHeadline\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"%E2%80%98The_mother_of_these_2_boys_lost_custody_through_the_Department_of_Homeland_Security_and_has_offered_no_support\"><\/span>\n  \u2018The mother of these 2 boys lost custody through the Department of Homeland Security, and has offered no support\u2019<br \/>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><\/p>\n<div class=\"column column--full article__content\">\n<div id=\"js-article__body\" class=\"article__body article-wrap at16-col16 barrons-article-wrap\" itemprop=\"articleBody\" data-sbid=\"98B67C38-43EE-11EB-A54E-88335A291438\">\n<div class=\"barrons-article-ad-wrapper\">\n<div data-track=\"barrons-article-ad-wrap\" class=\"barrons-article-ad sticky_item\">\n<div class=\"barrons-main-article-ad-target sticky_target body_ad\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>       <strong>Dear Moneyist,<\/strong><\/p>\n<p> Perhaps you can lead me to the proper channels so I can take action. I am a mother to 5 young boys: 3 are biologically mine and, earlier this year, I received a $500 stimulus payment for each of them. Last year, my partner\u2019s 2 young boys are living with us full time. We are not yet married, and he is not yet a U.S. citizen, despite serving 8 years in the U.S. Marines. <\/p>\n<div class=\"paywall\">\n       The mother of these 2 boys lost custody through the Department of Homeland Security, and has offered no support. Last year, she claimed the 2 boys on her taxes and, thus, received a stimulus check for both of them. My partner does not file taxes and, last year, I did not see a reason for me to file jointly as I already had 3 dependents. <\/p>\n<p>So \u201cThe Mother of the Year\u201d made out very well, and still offered no support. I have supported these boys for well over a year. What can I do? Where do I start?<\/p>\n<p>Stepmother<\/p>\n<p><strong>Dear Stepmother,<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Before I get into your question, focus on being \u201cStepmother of the Year\u201d and leave it up to the gods to sit in judgement, and decide whether or not the mother of these 2 boys deserves a title, and what it should be. Who are we to decide? That said, I commend you on being there for these boys.<\/p>\n<p>Your dilemma is not the first one of this kind. One husband actually refused to give the payment to his wife. That was a textbook case of financial abuse. Another husband filed a joint tax return and forged his estranged wife\u2019s signature, and received her $1,200. That\u2019s fraud.<\/p>\n<p>Claiming false deductions is fraud. However, if your boyfriend\u2019s ex-wife claimed the 2 boys last year and they were still living with her for over half of last year, that is likely a legitimate claim given that he does not file taxes, and their legal guardianship had not been ruled upon.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen you knowingly claim a false dependent on your taxes, you risk sanctions and a potential audit from the IRS,\u201d <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.communitytax.com\/resource-center\/tax-scams\/false-deductions\/\" class=\"icon none\">according to Communitytax.com<\/a>. \u201cClaiming false deductions like dependents is considered tax evasion and is, therefore, a felony with potentially severe criminal penalties.\u201d<\/p>\n<div id=\"cx-membership-tile\"><\/div>\n<p>\u201cHowever, the IRS will only consider alleging a malicious-dependent fraud if the taxpayer demonstrated willfulness . Without the intention, the offense is considered negligence. There are still penalties for neglect; it\u2019s your responsibility to know the rules, but it\u2019s not a crime,\u201d the site says.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBecause you are technically filing your taxes under penalty of perjury, everything you claim has to be true, or you can be charged with penalty of perjury,\u201d it adds. \u201cFailing to be honest by claiming a false dependent could result in 3 years of prison and fines up to $250,000.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Depending on how all that shakes out, you have some options, including a refund trace or <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.irs.gov\/newsroom\/economic-impact-payment-information-center-topic-f-payment-issued-but-lost-stolen-destroyed-or-not-received\" class=\"icon none\">Form 3911<\/a>, a <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov\/about-us\/low-income-taxpayer-clinics-litc\/\" class=\"icon none\">taxpayer advocate service<\/a> with the IRS that has remote workers at law schools working to help people in situations such as yours, <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lsc.gov\/what-legal-aid\/find-legal-aid\" class=\"icon none\">and legal aid. <\/a><\/p>\n<p>If you are not a legal guardian of these children, and your partner does not file taxes, he will likely have to seek out legal counsel himself, and talk through the options of claiming these children as dependents. Filing a tax return is a good place to start.<\/p>\n<p>Good luck. It sounds like these 2 children are getting the love and the support they need during a period of change that must be very difficult for them. A child only needs one parent who is present, provides boundaries and love, and it sounds like these boys have two.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>You agree to your emailed letter to the Moneyist will be published here anonymously. It may be edited for style and space.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Hello there, MarketWatchers. Check out <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/moneyist\/\" class=\"icon none\">the Moneyist private Facebook<\/a><br \/>\n        FB,<br \/>\n        <bg-quote field=\"percentchange\" format=\"0,000.00%\" channel=\"\/zigman2\/quotes\/205064656\/composite\" class=\"negative\">-1.31%<\/bg-quote><br \/>\n      \u00a0group where we look for answers to life\u2019s thorniest money issues. <\/strong><\/em><em><strong>Readers share all sorts of dilemmas. <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<div data-layout=\"inline\n              \" data-layout-mobile=\"\" class=\"\n        media-object\n        type-InsetRelatedArticles\n          inline\n  article__inset\n        article__inset--type-InsetRelatedArticles\n          article__inset--inline\n  \"><\/p><\/div>\n<div data-layout=\"\n              inline\" data-layout-mobile=\"\" class=\"\n        media-object\n        type-InsetCommentingPromo\n            \n            inline\n  article__inset\n        article__inset--type-InsetCommentingPromo\n            article__inset--inline\n  \"><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p><\/p>\n<div class=\"byline article__byline\">\n<p>      <span>By<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"author  hasMenu\" data-scrim='{\"type\":\"author\",\"header\":\"Quentin Fottrell\",\"subhead\":\"The Wall Street Journal\",\"list\":[]}' itemscope itemprop=\"author\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Person\">\n<h4 itemprop=\"name\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Quentin_Fottrell\"><\/span>Quentin Fottrell<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMLG0nwswvr63Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">For forums sites go to <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/forum.buradabiliyorum.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Forum.BuradaBiliyorum.Com<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/news\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"2\" title=\"News\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">News<\/a> articles, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/news\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">News category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.marketwatch.com\/news\/story.asp?guid=%7B98B67C38-43EE-11EB-A54E-88335A291438%7D&#038;siteid=rss&#038;rss=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;# My boyfriend\u2019s ex-wife claimed her sons as dependents and got their stimulus, despite losing full custody. What can we do? &#8221; \u2018The mother of these 2 boys lost custody through the Department of Homeland Security, and has offered no support\u2019 Dear Moneyist, Perhaps you can lead me to the proper channels so I can&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":83544,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[70897],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-139014","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/139014","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=139014"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/139014\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/83544"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=139014"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=139014"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=139014"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}