Head of Household can provide huge benefits, but claiming your lady or man friends child does not qualify. “You are......NOT the father!”
Taxpayers sometimes claim a cousin or the child of a friend as their qualifying person. Neither person can qualify a taxpayer for head of household filing status. The law specifies a finite list of relationships for head of household. The list does not include cousins or unrelated children, except for children who meet the requirements to be an eligible foster child.
Eligible Foster Child - An eligible foster child is a child placed with you by an authorized placement agency or by a judgment, decree, or other order of a court of competent jurisdiction.
For other common reasons you may not qualify click this link:
https://www.ftb.ca.gov/individuals/hoh/com-reasons.shtml
For Head of Household qualification requirements click here: