A Pennsylvania man received a $93,000 bill to cover his mother’s nursing home care. He had not signed any paper declaring responsibility, but the nursing home successfully relied on a dormant state law to insist he pay in the 2012 court case. Colonial-era “filial responsibility” laws that require adult children to pay for indigent parents’ care exist in 27 states but are rarely invoked. Several states, including Idaho, Montana, Iowa and Utah, have recently removed their filial responsibility laws from the books. Sources: Taking Care of our Caretakers: Using Filial Responsibility Laws to Support the Elderly Beyond the Government’s Assistance, NEWS RELEASE: State Rep. Howard's filial responsibility bill passes House.