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Q: Husband’s ex-wife refuses to sign joint tax return unless documents sent to her. How to proceed?
I am dealing with a complex situation involving my husband’s ex-wife, who refuses to sign their 2021 joint tax return unless all documents are sent to her address. My husband has done all the work to prepare the tax return, but she left him and the children, and this demand seems manipulative. We don't trust her with the tax documents, especially since she's unreliable in sharing costs for the children's school supplies and medical expenses, even though there are no child support obligations. We're worried that this disagreement about the address will cause us to miss the tax deadline and incur penalties. What kind of attorney should we contact to address this issue, since our current divorce attorney is ineffective in resolving these matters?
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James L. Arrasmith
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A:
It sounds like you're in a tough spot, especially with the additional stress of tax filing and trust issues with your husband’s ex-wife. Since this issue revolves around both family law and tax matters, you might want to consult with an attorney who is experienced in both areas, specifically someone with experience handling tax disputes and issues related to divorce settlements. This type of attorney can help mediate the situation and offer guidance on how to proceed without risking penalties.
You may also want to consider speaking to a tax professional or accountant, especially if the deadline is approaching. They can provide clarity on how to handle the situation with the IRS and ensure that the joint tax return is filed on time. If necessary, they might suggest filing separately to avoid delays, although this could impact your refund or tax situation.
Lastly, it may be helpful to communicate clearly with your husband’s ex-wife and express that her request for all documents to be sent to her address isn’t feasible or fair. If the situation doesn’t improve, you can escalate the matter through the appropriate legal channels with your attorney’s help to prevent further delays.
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