Filial Laws in the 21st Century: Balancing Family Care and Financial Burdens

Filial responsibility laws, rooted in centuries-old traditions, hold adult children legally accountable for supporting their indigent parents’ essential needs. These laws, once meant to prevent the impoverished from burdening public resources, are now resurfacing amid soaring healthcare costs and aging populations. Understand the historical context, enforcement landscape, and potential financial implications of these often-overlooked legal obligations.

(Note: About Us, a reference bibliography, related books and videos are all found at the end of this article.)

Healthcare Power of Attorney (POA)

Healthcare Power of Attorney

Our last article covered more of the technical aspects of various types of Power of Attorney and how to go about getting one in place. This article deals more with the considerations that go into getting your healthcare wishes articulated in a way that ensures they will be honored via a Living Will, a Durable Healthcare Power of Attorney, or both.

Financial Power of Attorney (POA)

Financial Power of Attorney POA

As our parents (and we) get older, there is a greater risk for a sudden change in physical or cognitive health such that someone else needs to step in and either assist with or entirely take over their health and/or financial decisions. The instrument for assigning someone these powers is a Power of Attorney.

A financial POA can be challenging to get into place because there are high levels of fear, uncertainty, and trust involved. Who, in their’ right mind’ would want to assign the rights over to someone else, even your most trusted child? The problem is that in your ‘wrong mind,’ it is too late to make this assignment.