Household is a legal term that can refer to the individuals living in a single residence, typically a family unit. In the context of the law, it usually pertains to the people who are in a familial relationship (including marriage) and who live together as one economic unit. The individuals living in a household may be related by blood or marriage, or they may be unrelated.
For the purposes of filing taxes, filing visas, or filing for social security, the government ties their eligibility criteria requirements to the concept of a household. Generally, an unmarried person, a married couple, and their children all count as a single household. Those that are not married or have adopted children, might be considered two households, depending on the definition of their ‘family unit’. Different states might have different legal mandates about what exactly qualifies as a “household.”
Understanding Modern Ideas of Household
In modern society, we often are witnessing different types of households comprised of multiple adults, unmarried couples, single parents and various combinations of unrelated people living under the same roof. For these types of situations, it’s important to understand the variables surrounding the defining of a household so that legal matters can be correctly evaluated.
Single families may share a home with a roommate that could be related by any number of relationships, including business partner, friend, or roomie. In such a case, it would be important to understand whether the household could be considered one economic unit or possibly two. On the other hand, digital nomads, or those who travel specializing in remote work, may find themselves frequently changing their residency with no legal distinction, and instead defining themselves more broadly as a digital family.
Setting Legal Parameters & Understanding Laws Governing a Household
The goverment will look to certain concrete ways to consider a household unit, such as taxes, visa applications, passports, social security, insurance, etc. While certain details may shift, the overarching concept of a household stays the same: the legal recognition of a cohesive living situation with a set of eligible individuals. The legal mandates for a household may be based on relationships, financial circumstances, residency, education and more.
It’s important to familiarize yourself with the legal definitions and distinctions that go into establishing a household, as these are important for a wide variety of legal applications. Understanding these terms can be an important factor in ensuring that you, your family, and your home are all taken into consideration when navigating through the legal realm.
Many people may use the term ‘household’ in day-to-day conversation, but understanding the legal definition of a household is key to successfully navigating the complexity of legal matters.