Could I Face A Nursing Home Lawsuit for A Family Member?

A recent story we heard on the radio described a nursing home lawsuit against a family member of the resident. Several of our clients wondered: is this a real thing? Do I need to worry about a nursing home lawsuit, even if I’m not the one receiving care? Yes, it is a real thing. And […]
“Filial Support” Laws and Nursing Home Collections
We read an interesting article today, posted on the Elder Law Prof Blog. It includes an interview with the child of a nursing home resident — the child (not the resident) was successfully sued for a portion of her mother’s nursing home bill. We thought it would be of interest to our readers, as well. […]
Nursing Home Bills and “the Doctrine of Necessaries”
JULY 8, 2013 VOLUME 20 NUMBER 25 Under the English common law (inherited, to a greater or lesser degree, by all the states of the U.S.), a husband was obligated to support his wife and children. Because women could not legally enter into enforceable contracts, a person who provided goods or services to a woman […]
“Filial Support” Laws: Making Children Pay for Their Parents’ Nursing Home
JULY 30, 2012 VOLUME 19 NUMBER 29 When your parents go to the nursing home, could you be liable for their bills? That may seem unlikely, but as the country’s leading authority on the subject (Prof. Katherine Pearson from the Dickinson School of Law at Pennsylvania State University) notes, there are laws on the books […]
Attempt to Force Children to Pay Father’s Hospital Bill Fails
JUNE 2, 2003 VOLUME 10, NUMBER 48 Are adult children liable for the medical care of their parents? Several states (not including Arizona) have laws that attempt to impose what is sometimes called “family responsibility” or “filial responsibility” on children for the care of indigent parents. A recent South Dakota case provides a little insight […]