Filial Responsibility Laws

Abstract

A review of the state statutes on filial responsibility was conducted in the summer of 1988 in order to determine the current governmental orientations toward family support of the elderly. At the present time, 30 states have statutory standards regarding filial responsibility. Variations between state statutes exist with regard to definitions of need for support of an older family member who was to be held accountable for support, penalties for nonsupport, and enforcement procedures. The constitutionality of current state statutes is discussed, and consideration is given concerning the feasibility of such filial responsibility statutes based on the notion of the "traditional" family.