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Does State Laws Require You to Support Your Aging Parent?


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Updated: January 26, 2024

elderly parent care

Who is “required” to take care of your elderly parent?

The following should not be considered legal advice. Always seek the counsel of an attorney to help with your particular situation.

If you have aging parents, you may have wondered who will pay their bills if they are no longer able to. Many family members are unsure about bill payments and debt responsibilities when their senior loved one is ill or passes away. In addition, the cost of caregiving and Life Alert cost can add up. Fortunately, there are a few ways you can begin to prepare your loved one’s estate and decrease your risk of being responsible for their expenses. However, it is also important to know more about filial responsibility and how those laws can leave you on the hook for long-term care expenses as well as other healthcare bills.

What is Filial Responsibility?

Filial Responsibility laws and statutes were created in some states in order to pass the obligation of paying for the basic care and needs of an aging parent to their adult children. This law dates back to the early 1600’s English law known as the Elizabethan Poor Law. These Poor Laws as they were known, were created in a time of economic depression. The government raised taxes as humanitarian aide to help pay for the relief of the elderly, handicap and destitute. They also stated that children were responsible for the care of their unemployed parents and grandparents. It is said that the American colonies modeled their public assistance on the Elizabethan Poor Law.

Currently, twenty-nine states in the U.S. as well as Puerto Rico have passed these filial (due from a son or daughter) responsibility laws.  Montana repealed theirs in 2021. In a nutshell, these filial responsibility laws require adult children to financially support their parents if they are not able to take care of themselves or to cover unpaid medical bills, such as assisted living or long-term care costs.  This also includes food, clothing, shelter, and health care/medical needs of the parent.  The following list contains states that have passed a form of this filial responsibility law and a link directly to their state statute, where  possible. Click on the state to find more specific information about their filial law.

According to the Miami Center for Estate Planning and Family Law, eleven out of the thirty states have never enforced their filial responsibility laws and most states rarely put them into place. Each state provides guidelines to the court on how to rule according to a variety of factors such as your financial state, if you have a dependent you are paying for in college, your personal needs for retirement and so on. As previously mentioned, each state’s filial law varies widely.

For instance, Arkansas only requires the child to pay for their parent’s mental health care expenses, and not those expenses associated with services given in nursing homes or hospitals. In Connecticut, adult children are only responsible for paying for parents who are 65 or younger. Nevada only enforces the filial responsibility law if there is a written promise to pay for the parent by the child. Pennsylvania is the only state on the list that currently enforces the law aggressively.

In one such case in Pennsylvania, a son was on the hook for $92,943 in unpaid nursing home bills accumulated from his ailing mother. The nursing home sued the son when the mother left the country and moved to Greece, leaving her nursing home bills behind. According to Kedavislaw.com, the case went on for several years.  Mr. Pittas initially won in arbitration in 2008, however, the nursing home appealed to a Pennsylvania state court. The judge ruled in the nursing facilities favor. The appellate panel requested that Mr. Pittas pay the facility the amount due.  The supreme court denied Mr. Pittas appeal and the court entered its final judgement against Mr. Pittas in 2011. This is an extreme case of the filial responsibility law in action.

Although these filial laws vary from state to state, in general, the following is what you need to know if this law may apply to you. Remember, you should always seek legal advice from an attorney with experience in filial responsibility law to help you properly assess your situation.

Very broadly, the following criteria needs to be met in order for filial responsibility laws to apply:

  • Your parent is accepting financial support from the state government.
  • Your parent has a medical or nursing home bill, acquired in the state which has a filial responsibility law, which they cannot pay.
  • Your parent is considered indigent, meaning the cost of their care is exceeding their Social Security benefits.
  • Your parent does not qualify for Medicaid in the United States, which would typically be used to cover such expenses.
  • The caregiver has reason to believe the patient’s child has the money to pay the bill and chooses to sue the child for what is owed (you must prove that you do not have the ability to pay).
  • If the parent has not abandoned the child when they were a minor for a period of years (varies by state).

If you are sued and a court of law holds you accountable for the bills, you risk stiff penalties for not paying them; including possible jail time.  In some states, judges have the discretion to garnish your wages or place a lien on any property you own in an attempt to collect the money.  Having either of those things happen to you will result in your credit rating being lowered.

The positive news is that judges also have the discretion over deciding to enforce filial responsibility laws. As mentioned above, most states throughout the United States are very lenient with these laws and may not fully enforce them, if at all.  If you can demonstrate that you do not have the financial means to pay for your parent’s bills, the court system is generally not inclined to impoverish you by making you responsible for them.  Additionally, if you can show that you have significant family expenses you are dealing with otherwise, such as medical bills of your own, or college tuition for your dependent, a judge may exempt you from having to pay your parent’s debts as well.

Finally, if you can demonstrate that your parent abused or abandoned you as a child, the law typically considers that individual to be undeserving of your support. Some states do require a certain number of years of abandonment prior to age 18 in order for the abandonment rule to apply.

If you live in one of the states mentioned and fear that you may be sued under filial responsibility laws, your best course of action is to seek out an elder care attorney in your state for further advice.  Alternately, you may wish to consult with an elder care attorney to discuss estate planning if you would like to put a strategy in place to make sure your parent will be provided for in the event they need long term care (such as nursing home care or assisted living) or in-home caregiving in the future.

What Are the Costs of Caring for Aging Parents?

There are many costs associated with caring for a senior parent. Whether your aging parent requires in-home care or an assisted living facility, long-term care will be needed and the bills can stack up fast. The cost for a typical nursing home in the United States ranges between $5,000 and $9,000 a month. Even if your parent has Medicare, they do not traditionally cover assisted living costs. They may, however, cover healthcare fees associated with a skilled living facility. Do your research to see what long-term care your parent qualifies for and what exactly it will cover.

If your parent plans to age in place, there are a few unexpected costs to keep in mind besides their basic care needs. You may need to make modifications to your loved one’s home to make it safer for them and remove fall hazards. Some improvements may include installing shower railings, a walk-in bathtub, getting a home security system, adding a ramp or a stair lift, and so on. You will also need to consider the monthly cost of a medical alert device to use in case of emergencies. If your loved one is living home alone, you will have peace of mind knowing that help is only a button push away. Also, if you need to bring additional caregiving help in, the average cost for an in-home caregiver is about $19 per hour.  This is all in addition to the monthly maintenance and repairs on your parents’ home.

We suggest doing an assessment of your loved one’s finances as soon as possible. This requires looking at all income, pension, and investments. That way you can determine ahead of time what kind of monthly payment they can afford when it is time to retire. Having these money conversations now, when your parent is in good health is a good incentive to avoid it down the road when things might get tough. You can determine their financial security and create a plan to fill in any income gaps for the future.

Planning Ahead for an Aging Parent

It’s never too early to start planning for the care of your aging parent and we hope you can use the information in this article as a starting place. The first thing you should consider is learning about long-term care insurance. If you purchase this insurance early enough (while your parents are relatively healthy) the costs will be much more affordable, and they will be covered well into their old age.

The first thing you should consider is long-term care insurance. If you purchase this insurance early enough (while your parents are relatively healthy) the costs will be much more affordable, and they will be covered well into their old age. You can get the most for your loved one’s dollar by choosing a plan that suits their current and future needs. Involve any healthcare providers during this process so that you can better understand what type of care may be needed in the years ahead.

Next, you should consider the advice of an elder care attorney. They will give you information to help you decide if your loved one will qualify for Medicaid, help locate affordable senior living, help create a trust and a living will and much more. This can help avoid a lawsuit in the future from a disgruntled family member. We also recommend clearly outlining roles amongst siblings for when the time comes to care for mom or dad. Write a plan for who will be the legal guardian, power of attorney, who will oversee medical decisions and so on.

Next, begin to research solutions and options that will support your aging parent as they manage their complex and daily medical care for any chronic condition. For example, look up the Life Alert cost or other similar medical alert devices. These pendants and safety systems can help to keep your loved one safer for longer at home, and at a lower cost than you might expect. Don’t make the mistake of thinking these devices are just for the frail – older adult. Even active seniors can benefit from the extra peace of mind that comes with a Life Alert or other medical alert device.

Then it is time to review your loved one’s finances, including bank accounts and retirement income. Ensure you are including Social Security payments, pension, and other retirement payments as you review their property assets. You might also want to consult with a financial advisor in order to set-up a designated account for medical bills or other related expenses. They can also help you establish any budget for mental health, long-term care, or other medical expenses. Again, planning for their financial future, including long-term care costs, can save you stress later on.

Finally, when your loved one is ready for caregiving, if needed, you may also consider tapping into their home equity to cover the costs of care.

Taking these steps now, can help avoid worrying about the filial responsibility laws and medical expenses in the future.

 

Sources:

Hansan, J.E. (2011). English poor laws: Historical precedents of tax-supported relief for the poor. Social Welfare History Project. Retrieved 9/5/2018 from http://socialwelfare.library.vcu.edu/programs/poor-laws/

The Balance: https://www.thebalance.com/what-is-filial-responsibility-3974828

Find Law for Legal Professionals: https://caselaw.findlaw.com/pa-superior-court/1607095.html

Brookdale: https://www.brookdale.com/en/our-services/assisted-living/medicare-coverage-assisted-living.html