A step child is a legal child of your spouse. The document you need is a marriage certificate. If your spouse has a legal child (biological, adopted, or step child from a previous marriage), that child becomes your step child upon your marriage.

How To Know If A Step Or Foster Child Is A Dependent
- A foster child is a child placed in your home by an agency that is legally allowed to make foster child placements under the laws of your state.
- In some states, only a state agency or family court can do that. In other states, private placement agencies might also be qualified.
- You need to check the laws of your state. You don’t normally need legal documents to file a tax return but if you are audited or someone else claims the same dependent, then presumably there are court orders, letters or other documents authorizing the foster placement.
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