Frequently Asked Questions - Immediate Family Members/Business Names

If my spouse and I live in separate households but are still legally married, am I required to disclose him or her as an immediate family member?

No. For purposes of the financial disclosure statement, an immediate family member is your spouse residing in your household and any dependent children. R.C. 102.01(D). If your spouse does not reside in your household, you not required to disclose his or her name on your financial disclosure statement.

NOTE: The financial disclosure law refers to “immediate family members,” which is defined very narrowly for disclosure purposes. There is a more expansive definition of family members for restrictions in the law that involve a public official’s or employee’s family members.

Are any family members other than my children considered immediate family members if they are financially dependent on me? For example, if I act as the guardian for an adult family member, do I have to list that person as an immediate family member? Does it make a difference whether the family member is considered a dependent on my taxes or lives in my household?

No. R.C. 102.02(A)(2)(a) requires a filer to disclose each member of his or her immediate family. Immediate family is defined as a spouse residing in the person’s household and any dependent child. R.C. 102.01(D).

What must I disclose as a name under which I or members of my immediate family do business?

You must disclose the names of any corporations, companies, sole proprietorships, partnerships, or other business entities under which you, your spouse residing in your household, or your dependent children conduct a business. For example, if your wife owns or co-owns a business called “Anderson Events,” you would need to disclose “Anderson Events” as a name under which your family member does business.

If my husband is a tradesperson or craftsperson, such as a carpenter or artist, or has some other kind of self-employment, do I have to list his personal name as a name under which he does business if he doesn’t have a specific business name?

Yes. If your immediate family member does business under his personal name, you are required to list his name as a name under which he does business.

Do I have to list the name of my own or a family member’s business if the corporation’s name has been canceled by operation of law (for failure to renew the trade name) or the corporation has been dissolved, is inactive, or is insolvent?

You are required to list the names under which you or a family member do business. If, at any time during the reporting calendar year, you or your family member was conducting business, you need to disclose the business name. If, however, the corporation went out of business before the beginning of the calendar year, you do not need to disclose the name of the corporation.

Financial Disclosure FAQs