§ 25-11-105 — Limitation on liability of responsible relatives; liability of relatives, patient and estate after release or death; exception

(a) The liability of a parent or spouse of a resident for
payment of established charges shall not exceed two (2) years of
cumulative care at the state institution. Voluntary payments
for care in excess of the two (2) year limitation may be
accepted. This section does not limit the obligation, created
by contract or law, of third party payments for resident or
temporary services.
(b) Subject to the limitation in subsection (a) of this
section, the resident, his estate and other legally responsible
persons are liable after release of the resident for the payment
of any unpaid established charge. If a resident or a released
resident dies, his estate is liable for all unpaid established
charges unless the department exercising direct authority and
control over the institution determines that no claim or a
lesser claim should be filed against the estate due to the need
for support from the proceeds of the estate of the legal
dependents of the resident who are the beneficiaries of his
estate.