These 13 states can make adult children financially responsible for aging parents

Most of us assume our parents’ retirement is their responsibility—until the law says otherwise.

You can live in your own home, manage your own finances, and have been independent from your parents for decades. But in some states, being an adult doesn’t necessarily eliminate every potential financial obligation to an aging parent.

The reason is something called a filial responsibility law. These little-known statutes can, under certain circumstances, require adult children to contribute toward an indigent parent’s care or other necessities. They exist in numerous states, although what they require—and how aggressively they’re enforced—varies dramatically.

For most families, these laws will never become an issue. Medicaid, other government programs, a parent’s own resources, and state-specific exemptions can all affect whether an adult child ever faces liability.

But there have been cases in which families discovered these obscure laws only after an aging parent’s medical or long-term-care bills became substantial.

That’s what makes them worth knowing about before a crisis happens.

Here are the states with filial responsibility laws on the books, what those laws can potentially require adult children to pay, and why where your parents live could matter more than you realize.

Pennsylvania Requires Grown Children To Pay

Pennsylvania has one of the country’s most consequential filial responsibility laws—and one adult son learned just how expensive it can be.

Under Pennsylvania’s filial responsibility law, an adult child who has sufficient financial ability can be required to care for, maintain, or financially assist an indigent parent. The law also allows an interested person, public body, or public agency to ask a court to enforce that responsibility.

And this isn’t merely a forgotten law that’s never made it into a courtroom.

In the landmark 2012 case Health Care & Retirement Corporation of America v. Pittas, a nursing facility sued John Pittas over his mother’s unpaid care. The amount of the judgment: $92,943.41. The Pennsylvania Superior Court affirmed the judgment.

Perhaps most surprisingly, Pittas hadn’t signed an agreement accepting responsibility for his mother’s bill. The facility pursued him under Pennsylvania’s filial responsibility statute itself. His mother had also left the nursing facility and moved to Greece by the time the litigation unfolded.

Pennsylvania does provide important protections. An adult child isn’t liable if they don’t have sufficient financial ability to support the parent. The law also provides an exception when a parent abandoned the child and continued that abandonment for at least 10 years while the child was a minor.

The financial pressure surrounding family caregiving is hardly unusual. The 2025 National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP report estimates that 63 million Americans provide ongoing care to adults or children with complex medical conditions or disabilities, including 59 million caring for adults.

Pennsylvania is the state that makes the warning behind filial responsibility laws particularly difficult to dismiss. A nearly $93,000 judgment against an adult child shows that, under the right circumstances, a parent’s unpaid care really can become their child’s legal problem.

California Keeps Filial Responsibility On The Books

California technically says adult children have a duty to support impoverished parents—but there’s a major catch buried elsewhere in state law.

Under California Family Code §4400, an adult child must, to the extent of their ability, support a parent who is in need and unable to maintain themselves through work.

Read by itself, that sounds remarkably strict. But California law doesn’t stop there.

Another provision, Family Code §4403, generally prohibits a parent—or the state or county acting on the parent’s behalf—from bringing an action against an adult child to enforce that support obligation.

That makes California a good example of why simply finding a filial responsibility law on the books doesn’t tell the whole story. A state can recognize a legal duty while simultaneously placing substantial restrictions on who can actually enforce it.

The financial stakes surrounding long-term care are nevertheless enormous. The 2025 CareScout Cost of Care Survey found that the national median cost of a private nursing-home room reached $129,575 a year, while a semi-private room reached $114,975.

But those enormous costs don’t mean a California nursing home can simply hand the unpaid balance to an adult child. A child’s liability can depend on entirely different issues, including contracts they signed and other applicable laws.

The California takeaway is therefore less frightening than the statute initially sounds: the state still recognizes a duty for capable adult children to support needy parents, but enforcing that duty is another matter entirely.

South Dakota Empowers Medical Facilities

South Dakota can require financially capable adult children to provide life’s basic necessities for a parent who can no longer provide them—but the child must first be put on notice.

Under South Dakota Codified Law §25-7-27, an adult child who has the financial ability to do so must provide necessary food, clothing, shelter, or medical care for a parent who is unable to provide those necessities for themselves.

But South Dakota includes an important procedural protection: a claim generally cannot be made against an adult child unless the child was first given written notice that the parent was unable to provide for themselves—and then refused to help.

The timing matters, too. In most cases, the required notice must be given within 90 days after the food, clothing, shelter, or medical care being claimed was first provided. When a parent applies for certain forms of county assistance, the law specifically requires the county to provide the necessary notice.

South Dakota even addresses what happens when one sibling shoulders the burden while the others don’t. Under SDCL §25-7-28, a child who provides necessary support to a parent can potentially seek proportional contributions from financially capable adult brothers and sisters who refuse or fail to help, provided the required written notice was given.

The issue is increasingly relevant as America’s population ages. A 2026 Pew Research Center study found that 10% of U.S. adults consider themselves caregivers for a parent age 65 or older. Among Americans who actually have a parent in that age group, nearly one-quarter are caregivers.

South Dakota’s law therefore isn’t simply about unpaid nursing-home bills. It creates a broader family obligation: if you’re financially able and receive proper notice that your parent cannot provide for their basic needs, refusing to help could potentially expose you to a legal claim.

North Dakota Expects Children To Help

North Dakota says adult children have a duty to support parents who can’t support themselves—but there’s a major catch when creditors come looking for money.

Under North Dakota Century Code §14-09-10, every adult child of an adult who is unable to support themselves has a duty to help maintain that person to the extent of the child’s ability.

That sounds remarkably broad. But North Dakota places substantial restrictions on when a medical or long-term-care provider can actually use that duty to recover money from an adult child.

A creditor generally can’t pursue a child merely because the parent couldn’t pay the bill. Under current law, recovery for necessary health services—including medical and long-term care—is generally tied to situations where the adult child received a direct benefit from an improper transfer of the parent’s assets or acted in bad faith by misappropriating, misusing, or diverting the parent’s money or property to prevent it from being used to pay for care.

Even then, the amount a creditor can recover is limited by the value associated with the improper transfer or diversion.

That’s an important distinction. Having money while your parent doesn’t isn’t, by itself, enough to make a nursing home bill yours under this provision.

The financial realities of caregiving remain enormous. The CDC reports that more than 11 million U.S. adults provide unpaid care for someone with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia, providing billions of hours of care each year.

North Dakota therefore looks frightening if you read only the first sentence of its filial-support law. Read the rest, however, and adult children have considerably more protection from creditors than that sweeping language initially suggests.

Delaware Allows Civil Lawsuits

Delaware

Delaware may be tiny, but its law makes family financial obligations surprisingly explicit.

Under Delaware Code Title 13, §503, the duty to support a poor person who cannot support themselves falls on family members in a specific order: first a spouse, then parents, and finally children.

That order matters. An adult child isn’t automatically first in line simply because an elderly parent runs out of money. But if there is no spouse capable of providing support, financially able children can potentially become responsible. When several children are in the same position, Delaware says those who are able should contribute according to their means.

The law also recognizes that adult children may have more immediate responsibilities of their own. Delaware places the duty to support a poor person below obligations such as supporting your own minor children and your spouse. And another provision states that no person is required to support someone when there is “just cause” for failing or refusing to do so.

So having an impoverished parent in Wilmington or Dover doesn’t mean their medical bills automatically become yours. But Delaware does recognize a legal family-support obligation that can eventually reach adult children who have the financial ability to help.

The surprising part isn’t that Delaware expects families to help one another. It’s that the state has actually written down who comes first—and who can be next in line when the money runs out.

Massachusetts Punishes Negligent Children

Massachusetts has one of the more startling filial responsibility laws still sitting on the books.

Under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 273, Section 20, an adult who has sufficient financial means can potentially face penalties for “unreasonably” refusing to support a parent who lives in Massachusetts and is unable to support themselves because of old age, illness, or infirmity.

And the potential penalty gets your attention: a fine of up to $200, imprisonment for up to one year, or both.

But there are major qualifications. The parent must be destitute through misfortune and “without fault of his own,” and the law provides protections for adult children in certain circumstances—including when a parent failed to reasonably support them during childhood. Enforcement also appears to be exceptionally rare.

So Massachusetts residents shouldn’t assume they’ll suddenly be handed Mom or Dad’s nursing-home bill. But the century-old law remains on the books, making Massachusetts one of the states where adult children can technically have a legal obligation to support an impoverished parent.

The issue may become increasingly relevant as Americans live longer. According to the CDC, someone who reached age 65 in 2024 could expect to live another 19.7 years on average—years that can include increasingly expensive health and long-term-care needs.

Rhode Island Emphasizes Mutual Support

Rhode Island has a surprisingly tough filial responsibility law still on the books.

Under Rhode Island General Laws §15-10-1, an adult child can potentially be penalized for “unreasonably” neglecting or refusing to support a parent who lives in Rhode Island and is unable to support themselves because of old age, illness, or infirmity.

The potential punishment is startling: a fine of up to $200, imprisonment for up to one year, or both.

But the law is much narrower than simply requiring children to pay the bills whenever Mom or Dad runs out of money. The parent must be destitute through misfortune and “without fault of his or her own,” and the statute provides protections for adult children whose parents failed to reasonably support them when they were minors. It also recognizes reasonable contributions made when several siblings share responsibility.

Rhode Island law even establishes procedures allowing complaints seeking parental support to be brought through the state’s legal system.

That doesn’t mean an adult child will automatically become responsible for a parent’s nursing-home or medical bills. But Rhode Island is one of the states where refusing to support a qualifying indigent parent can technically carry criminal consequences.

Anyone actually facing a demand for payment based on Rhode Island’s filial responsibility law should speak with a Rhode Island attorney before assuming the debt is legally theirs.

Nevada Requires Legal Action

Nevada’s law comes with an important catch: simply being someone’s adult child isn’t necessarily enough to make you financially responsible for them.

Under Nevada Revised Statutes §428.070, an adult child may potentially be required to reimburse the government for financial assistance provided to an indigent parent—but only under specific circumstances.

One of the biggest protections is surprisingly simple: the adult child must have previously agreed in writing to support the parent. Without that written agreement, the statute does not impose the same reimbursement obligation simply because of the family relationship.

That’s an important distinction for families navigating long-term care. Signing financial documents on behalf of a parent isn’t the same thing as agreeing to become personally responsible for the parent’s expenses, and federal law generally restricts Medicare- and Medicaid-certified nursing homes from requiring a third-party guarantee of payment as a condition of admission.

Family caregiving can still become expensive without any law getting involved. A U.S. News survey reported by McKnight’s Home Care found that 30.5% of family caregivers surveyed spent between $1,000 and $5,000 annually on caregiving expenses.

The Nevada takeaway is less “you must support your parents” and more “be very careful about what you agree to in writing.” Anyone being asked to personally guarantee an aging parent’s expenses should understand exactly what the document requires before signing it.

You may want to read: What to do when your aging parent says no to mental health help

Louisiana Follows Alimony Rules

Louisiana doesn’t merely suggest that adult children help impoverished parents—the obligation is written directly into state law.

Under Louisiana Civil Code Article 237, descendants can be required to provide the basic necessities of life to an ascendant who is genuinely in need and unable to obtain those necessities through other means or sources.

And Louisiana spells out exactly what “necessities” means: food, clothing, shelter, and health care.

The obligation works both ways—parents and other ascendants can also owe support to needy descendants—and there are important limitations. A parent must demonstrate genuine financial need, including an inability to obtain necessities from personal resources, earning capacity, public assistance, or other sources. If the parent is married, the spouse’s support obligation generally comes before that of the children.

Louisiana law also provides a mechanism for enforcing the obligation. Under Louisiana R.S. §13:4731, a person in “necessitous circumstances” can seek support from children or grandchildren in district court. If the court determines that the parent is in need and the children or grandchildren are able to contribute, it can order an appropriate amount of support to be paid weekly or monthly.

The amount isn’t necessarily permanent. A court can increase, decrease, or cancel the obligation if circumstances change.

So Louisiana’s law is more than an obscure provision collecting dust in an old statute book. It provides an actual legal process through which a qualifying parent can seek financial support from adult children or grandchildren who have the ability to help.

Kentucky Demands Financial Backing

Kentucky doesn’t just encourage adult children to help impoverished parents—it puts that obligation inside the state’s criminal nonsupport law.

Under Kentucky Revised Statutes §530.050, an adult age 18 or older who lives in Kentucky and has a parent living in the state has a legal duty to provide support when that parent is destitute and unable to support themselves because of old age, illness, or infirmity.

But there’s an important limitation: the law applies to support the adult child can “reasonably provide.” In other words, Kentucky doesn’t simply say that an adult child must pay whatever an impoverished parent needs regardless of the child’s own financial circumstances.

Ignoring the obligation can potentially have criminal consequences. Persistently failing to provide support that a person can reasonably provide can constitute nonsupport, a Class A misdemeanor. Kentucky law also contains a more serious offense of “flagrant nonsupport” under certain circumstances involving an existing court or administrative support order.

There’s another notable restriction: both generations must have a Kentucky connection. The statute specifically describes an adult child residing in Kentucky who has a parent residing in Kentucky.

So Kentucky’s law is more serious than an old-fashioned statement that children ought to care for their parents. The obligation remains part of the state’s current criminal code—and refusing support can potentially become a criminal matter.

Indiana Places The Burden On Kids

Indiana can require financially capable adult children to help provide basic necessities for an impoverished parent—but only if the parent fulfilled some responsibilities of their own.

Under Indiana Code §31-16-17-1, an adult child who is financially able through their own income, earnings, or property can be required to contribute when a parent cannot afford necessary food, clothing, shelter, or medical care.

But Indiana attaches an important condition: the parent must have provided the child with necessary food, shelter, clothing, medical attention, and education until the child reached age 16.

That makes the law particularly significant for adult children who were abandoned or seriously neglected. Rather than requiring a child to prove some broadly defined history of “severe abuse,” the statute establishes a specific prerequisite based on whether the parent provided those necessities during childhood.

Indiana also gives several parties the ability to pursue support. A parent can bring the case, but so can a prosecuting attorney, certain local agencies, the Division of Family Resources, or the township trustee where the parent lives.

If a court finds that an adult child has a duty to contribute, it considers the parent’s needs, the child’s ability to pay, and evidence about how the parent treated the child while the parent had an obligation to support them.

So Indiana doesn’t simply hand an impoverished parent’s bills to their adult children. But for financially capable children whose parents supported them through childhood, the state provides an actual legal mechanism for requiring help with basic necessities.

Georgia Can Sue For Support

Georgia law can require financially capable adult children to support a parent who is completely destitute—and it gives counties a way to recover money when the family doesn’t step in.

Under Georgia law, a father, mother, or adult child who is “sufficiently able” can be required to support a qualifying indigent family member. Georgia courts have interpreted the law’s definition of a “pauper” narrowly, applying it to someone who is essentially completely destitute and unable to support themselves.

The law also gives counties some financial protection. If a county provides for an impoverished parent after capable relatives fail to do so, the county can bring an action against adult relatives to recover the cost of the support it provided.

That doesn’t mean an adult child automatically becomes responsible whenever a parent runs short of money, enters a nursing home, or receives public assistance. The parent’s circumstances must satisfy the law’s requirements, and the adult child must have sufficient financial ability to provide support.

But Georgia’s law makes the underlying principle surprisingly clear: under limited circumstances, supporting a completely destitute parent isn’t merely viewed as a family responsibility. It can become a legal one.

Ohio Allows Criminal Penalties

Ohio can make abandoning an impoverished aging parent a criminal offense—and the obligation is still written directly into state law.

Under Ohio Revised Code §2919.21, a person cannot abandon or fail to provide adequate support to an aged or infirm parent or adoptive parent who lacks the ability and financial means to adequately support themselves.

Failing to meet that obligation can potentially result in a charge of nonsupport of dependents, a first-degree misdemeanor.

But Ohio law also recognizes that not every adult child has the money—or the family history—to reasonably be held responsible.

An adult child can raise an affirmative defense if they were unable to provide adequate support but provided whatever support was within their ability and means.

There’s also an important protection for people whose parents failed them during childhood. If the parent abandoned the adult child or failed to support them as required by law while they were under 18, that can provide an affirmative defense to the charge.

That distinction matters. The law doesn’t require someone to prove that a parent was abusive or that the childhood relationship was sufficiently “toxic.” The statutory question is more concrete: Did the parent abandon the child or fail to fulfill their own legal support obligation?

Ohio’s law therefore cuts both ways: adult children can have a legal obligation to support an impoverished aging parent—but a parent who failed to support their child may lose the ability to demand that same responsibility decades later.

You May Want To Read:

• Americans are still planning to retire, but retirement math feels more fragile in 2026
• Why Americans are refusing to adopt traditional retirement plans: 12 forward-thinking reasons
• What to do when your aging parent says no to mental health help