Schwemer v. Heck

At common law a child was not bound to support its parents. Duffy v. Yordi (1906), 149 Cal. 140, 84 Pac. 838, 4 L. R. A. (N. S.) 1159, and cases cited in note thereto. See also note 64 Am. Dec. 281.

The liability of a child to support its parent is statutory. Sec. 5 of ch. 28, R. S. 1849, provided:

“The father, mother, and children, being of sufficient ability, of any poor person who is blind, old, lame, impotent, or decrepit, so as to be unable to maintain himself, shall, at their own charge, relieve and maintain such poor person, in such manner as shall be approved by the supervisors of the…