An employee may use FMLA for his/her own care, the care of a spouse, dependent children under age 18, or the parents of the employee. There are occasional circumstances which would permit an employee to use FMLA if needed to care for an adult dependent or if acting "in loco parentis."
Spouse
Spouse means a husband or wife as defined or recognized under State law for purposes of marriage in the State where the employee resides, including common law marriage in States where it is recognized.
Parent
Parent means a biological, adoptive, step or foster father or mother, or any other individual who stood in loco parentis to the employee when the employee was a son or daughter. This term does not include parents “in law.”
Child
Son or daughter means a biological, adopted, or foster child, a stepchild, a legal ward, or a child of a person standing in loco parentis, who is either under age 18, or age 18 or older and incapable of self-care because of a mental or physical disability.