Tech Forum Archive

Who to put as Head of Household?

7 postsstarted by donatjr 1,519 viewsoriginal topic

donatjr
New Member
#1
We have a divorced mother with two of her children living with her, ages 25 and 19. Should the children be listed as separate heads of households with the same address as their mother, or should only the mother be shown as the head of household?
russellhltn
Community Administrator
#2
Unless something has changed, that's up to the bishop.

From past discussions in the forum, a number of units seem to have a policy to keep the child in the parent's household until they go out on their own. If they return, then they're their own household.
Have you searched the Help Center? Try doing a Google search and adding "site:churchofjesuschrist.org/help" to the search criteria.

So we can better help you, please edit your Profile to include your general location.
jdlessley
Community Moderators
#3
See the Help Center article Make Changes to Member Households for some help. The bottom line is to meet the needs of all the members living at the same address. Ultimately the bishop makes the decision, in consultation with the adult child(ren) and with the parent(s)
JD Lessley
Have you tried finding your answer on the ChurchofJesusChrist.org Help Center or Tech Wiki?
donatjr
New Member
#4
Thanks, everyone, and thanks for the link for TechWiki. I didn’t know that existed.
IvP4
New Member
#5
Generally, the head of household is the person who owns or rents the home in which everyone resides. If there is a Melchizedek priesthood holder, it would be them. If it is a single mother and the kids live with her, it would be the Mother. If the mother and sister live with the eldest son, it would be the son as he's the one paying the rent/ mortgage.

I have quite a few of those in our ward.
sbradshaw
Community Moderators
#6
IvP4 wrote: Mon May 19, 2025 2:42 pm Generally, the head of household is the person who owns or rents the home in which everyone resides. If there is a Melchizedek priesthood holder, it would be them. If it is a single mother and the kids live with her, it would be the Mother. If the mother and sister live with the eldest son, it would be the son as he's the one paying the rent/ mortgage.

I have quite a few of those in our ward.
I wouldn't feel comfortable asking who pays the rent, to know who to put as head of household. I haven't seen that as a requirement.
Samuel Bradshaw • If you desire to serve God, you are called to the work.
russellhltn
Community Administrator
#7
The Help Center has an item on Make Changes to Member Households.

An interesting case might be where an older parent is living with their child and their family. Is the son/daughter & family living with the parent, or is the parent living with the son/daughter?

In that case, I think I'd be inclined to have the parent (for example, grandmother) be their own household and the rest be another.
Have you searched the Help Center? Try doing a Google search and adding "site:churchofjesuschrist.org/help" to the search criteria.

So we can better help you, please edit your Profile to include your general location.