Are Adult Children Required To Care For Parents In North Dakota?

Caring for Aging Parents

Being a caregiver for your elderly parents can be a very difficult situation. Most households these days have two parents who already work, they have their own children to care for, and all the responsibilities that go with that. You add a whole new dynamic to the situation when you take on the responsibility of caring for your aging parents with your time and financially.

Getting them to their medical appointments, keeping track of their finances, and helping them clean their home, just to name a few, the duties can be never-ending. Then there will come a time when you will have to discuss with your parents when you can no longer care for them by yourself. You may even have to put them into assisted living or a nursing home. It's not a fun conversation to think about or discuss, but what if you have a strained relationship with your parents? This is another layer to an already difficult situation.

Are Adult Children in North Dakota Required to Care for their Aging Parents?

According to Trust & Will, North Dakota's Filial Responsibility Law holds adult children responsible for the care and well-being of their elderly parents. This falls under the North Dakota Century Code 14-09-10, and North Dakota is one of 30 states that hold adult children responsible for their parents.

South Dakota and Montana also have a similar Filial Responsibility Law.

Our other neighboring state, Minnesota, does NOT have such a law on the books to protect aging parents.

(SEE ALSO: Beautiful North Dakota Home Found Full of Dead Animals)

Each state has different Filial Responsibility Laws. Some are more involved and, in many cases, hold the children responsible even in financial situations involving living expenses and medical bills. North Dakota is one of those states that holds you financially responsible.

Is there any situation where you can refuse to care for your aging parent or parents in North Dakota?

The short answer is NO. You are not only obligated but required by law to do so when elderly individuals cannot take care of themselves anymore. The responsibility ultimately falls on the child or children to take care of them.

It's funny (or maybe not so funny) that my father, growing up, constantly reminded me how he was going to spend all of my inheritance after he retired. I would be left with nothing. My 10-year-old self came up with the perfect comeback for that comment. "Well, I guess I won't come visit you in the old folks' home then."  Not bad for a 10-year-old.