Pennsylvania

Who owes the duty

all of the following individuals have the responsibility to care for and maintain or financially assist an indigent person, regardless of whether the indigent person is a public charge: (i) The spouse of the indigent person. (ii) A child of the indigent person. (iii) A parent of the indigent person.

Condition on the parent

all of the following individuals have the responsibility to care for and maintain or financially assist an indigent person, regardless of whether the indigent person is a public charge

Ability-to-pay qualifier

(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply in any of the following cases: (i) If an individual does not have sufficient financial ability to support the indigent person.

Civil or criminal and Who may bring the action

(c) Procedure.--A court has jurisdiction in a case under this section upon petition of: (1) an indigent person; or (2) any other person or public body or public agency having any interest in the care, maintenance or assistance of such indigent person.

Penalty

At the hearing, if the court determines that the individual liable for support has intentionally failed to comply with the order, the court may hold the individual in contempt of court and may sentence the individual to up to six months' imprisonment.

Defences in the statute

(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply in any of the following cases: (i) If an individual does not have sufficient financial ability to support the indigent person. (ii) A child shall not be liable for the support of a parent who abandoned the child and persisted in the abandonment for a period of ten years during the child's minority.

Limited to public assistance cases

have the responsibility to care for and maintain or financially assist an indigent person, regardless of whether the indigent person is a public charge