Which of the following groups would be protected under the familial status category?

• A. Children Under 18 Living With Their Parents
• B. A Pregnant Woman
• C. A Child Under the Age of 18 Living With a Person Seeking Legal Custody
• D. All of the Above

Answer: (D)

Familial status protects individuals based on the presence or anticipated presence of children in the household. Under this protection, a family with a child under 18 cannot be treated differently in housing decisions, and certain situations are included even if the child isn’t currently in the home.

A child under 18 living with their parents clearly fits the definition of a family with children, so denying or limiting housing based on that situation would be discriminatory. A pregnant woman is protected because pregnancy signals that a child will soon be part of the household, and treating someone unfavorably for being pregnant would undermine the stability families are expected to have. A child under 18 living with a person who is seeking legal custody is protected too, since the household includes a minor and the housing decision can impact the child’s welfare during custody proceedings.

So, all of these scenarios fall under familial status protections, making that choice the correct one.