California
For California, statute is 4400; who owes the duty is an adult child shall, to the extent of the adult child’s ability, support a parent who is in need and unable to self-maintain by work; condition on the parent is a parent who is in need and unable to self-maintain by work; ability-to-pay qualifier is to the extent of the adult child’s ability; civil or criminal is civil, recorded from its source on 2026-08-31.
- State
- California our reading
- Statute
- 4400 verified
- Who owes the duty
- an adult child shall, to the extent of the adult child’s ability, support a parent who is in need and unable to self-maintain by work verified
- Condition on the parent
- a parent who is in need and unable to self-maintain by work verified
- Ability-to-pay qualifier
- to the extent of the adult child’s ability verified
- Civil or criminal
- civil our reading
- Who may bring the action
- A parent, or the county on behalf of the parent, may bring an action against the child to enforce the duty of support under this part. verified
- Limited to public assistance cases
- extends beyond public charge our reading
Values marked our reading are our classification of what the source says — the source does not print them in those words. The quote below is the evidence for each one; judge it yourself.
What the source says
PART 4. SUPPORT OF PARENTS [4400 - 4414] ( Part 4 enacted by Stats. 1992, Ch. 162, Sec. 10. ) CHAPTER 1. General Provisions [4400 - 4405] ( Chapter 1 enacted by Stats. 1992, Ch. 162, Sec. 10. ) 4400. Except as otherwise provided by law, an adult child shall, to the extent of the adult child’s ability, support a parent who is in need and unable to self-maintain by work.
— leginfo.legislature.ca.gov, retrieved 2026-08-31
Where each value comes from
This source states these in separate places, so each value is shown with the passage that states it.
Who owes the duty, Condition on the parent and Ability-to-pay qualifier
4400. Except as otherwise provided by law, an adult child shall, to the extent of the adult child’s ability, support a parent who is in need and unable to self-maintain by work.
Civil or criminal
4403. (a) Subject to subdivision (b): (1) A parent, or the county on behalf of the parent, may bring an action against the child to enforce the duty of support under this part.
Who may bring the action and Limited to public assistance cases
4403. (a) Subject to subdivision (b): (1) A parent, or the county on behalf of the parent, may bring an action against the child to enforce the duty of support under this part. (2) If the county furnishes support to a parent, the county has the same right as the parent to whom the support was furnished to secure reimbursement and obtain continuing support.
— all from leginfo.legislature.ca.gov, retrieved 2026-08-31
Source
- leginfo.legislature.ca.govhttps://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displayText.xhtml?lawCode=FAM&division=9.&title=&part=4.&chapter=1.&article=