Support of parents in Italy
The topic of support of parents is a delicate aspect that deserves attention and in-depth analysis just like other topics of family law.
Such obligation is provided for by law and finds in the Codice civile its precise regulation, providing in fact not only that such obligation exists in the parents’ position towards the children, but also the inverse case, namely that the obligation of support of parents in a state of need by the children, including adopted ones, exists.
Should the children be unable to provide economic assistance to the parents, this will become a burden of the grandchildren and gradually of the descendants.
Support, also support of parents abroad, is usually graduated based on the capacity of the individual. In fact, the child can decide to pay the parent a periodic allowance, or to welcome and support them in their own home.
There arises in the child a real civilistic obligation of assistance with patrimonial content, to which the right of the parent to the assistance benefit is the counterpart.
In fact, in case of violation of the obligation it is possible to apply to the judicial authority in order to request judicially the payment of support in favour of the entitled party.
In situations in which it concerns a person residing abroad, the obligation of support of parents by the children can raise complex legal questions, also when the subjects involved are foreigners residing in Italy, or there is a foreign spouse.
Legal advice for the support of parents
As mentioned, Italian law provides for the child certain obligations towards their parents and their family. Among the first duties, first of all there is that of respecting the parents and contributing to the support of the family according to one’s capacities, substances and income.
The foundation of the support obligation, also in the case of support of children with parents abroad, is traditionally found in the solidarity that must animate the components of the family.
This means that the child who lives with the parents but also receives their own income, has the duty to contribute to their support, where they are in economic straits.
Usually this duty ends when the child leaves the family home, but their duty to provide minimum sustenance to their parents remains firm where they find themselves in conditions of need.
When it concerns support towards parents by the children, and the aforementioned ascendants are abroad, it is of fundamental importance to clarify that such obligation persists and is valid regardless of the residence of the parents. Therefore, if a parent resides in a Country different from Italy, the children are nevertheless burdened with the obligation to ensure them sustenance.
It is useful for this purpose to specify that the maintenance obligations that arise within the family beyond national borders, as in the case of support of parents abroad, are entirely regulated by supranational sources.
In fact, while in the past there had been an attempt at unification through international conventions, today Regulation CE 4/2009 represents the main source relatively to competence, applicable law, recognition and execution of decisions on matters of maintenance obligations deriving from family, kinship, marriage, affinity relationships.
From the international private law profile, the regulation of maintenance obligations has been affected by deep changes following the entry into force of the already mentioned Regulation.
In light of the generic formulation contained in the regulation referred to, in the international and community context support obligations are entirely equated to maintenance ones, although in our internal legal system they are considered distinct.
The regulation of international family law that provides for the obligation borne by the children to support the parents is regulated by the Hague Convention of 23 November 2007 on “maintenance relationships”.
This Convention has the purpose of establishing common rules for the determination of the maintenance obligation towards relatives, among which the obligation of support of parents by the children also falls. Specifically:
- The Hague Convention of 2007 applies to maintenance obligations deriving from family, kinship, marriage or affinity relationships, including support obligations towards the parents
- The States that have ratified the Convention follow the rules established to determine which national law must be applied in cases of cross-border maintenance obligations.
In the European area, Regulation CE n. 4/2009 also applies, relating to competence, applicable law, recognition and execution of decisions and to cooperation on matters of maintenance obligations. This regulation deals with regulating the competence of courts, the recognition of judicial decisions and their execution within the European Union.
To establish the law applicable to maintenance obligations, usually Regulation CE n. 593/2008 (EU Regulation Roma I) is considered, which allows identifying which national law must be applied in cases of international relationships, including support obligations between children and parents.
Therefore, the Hague Convention of 2007 and the European regulations (such as EU Regulation n. 4/2009 and Roma I) constitute the main instruments of international law to regulate the obligation of support of parents borne by the children in cases that involve multiple States.
Boschetti Studio Legale, with the help of its team of lawyers, will be able to provide you with high-level assistance, competence and professionalism, to manage any disputes and ensure that the obligations on support are respected according to Italian regulations and those of the parent’s country of residence.
It is important to consult a lawyer to consider the civil and criminal legal implications, also when a parent is residing abroad, with difficulties potentially arising in the recovery of the sums due.
Typical scenarios / Case studies
The typical scenarios have been developed by combining the most significant family law situations that our firm regularly handles, creating structured and realistic examples designed to help readers better understand and navigate their own legal matters. The case studies, on the other hand, are based on real cases handled by our firm, with all personal data and identifying details anonymised to protect client confidentiality.
Registering a cohabitation agreement and regularising the status of a foreign partner
A couple living in Rome, consisting of an Italian citizen and his foreign partner without valid residence documents, sought legal protection for their relationship. An urgent application under Article 700 of the Italian Code of Civil Procedure was filed to safeguard their cohabitation, followed by proceedings to obtain an EU family member residence card.
Adult adoption to legally recognise a de facto family relationship
A United States citizen living in Rome sought to formalise a long standing family relationship with his uncle by marriage through adult adoption. Proceedings were brought under Articles 291 et seq. of the Italian Civil Code to obtain legal recognition of their established family bond.
Cohabitation agreement for an Italian Brazilian couple: protecting assets and securing residence rights
An Italian entrepreneur and his Brazilian partner had been living together in Milan for three years. Their situation involved three interconnected legal vulnerabilities relating to immigration, asset protection and succession planning, all addressed through a coordinated legal strategy.
Adoption in Colombia: an Italian couple fulfils their dream after a three year journey
A couple married for eight years embarked on an international adoption in Colombia. The procedure involved two legal systems, three Italian institutions and the Colombian Central Authority, requiring careful coordination throughout every stage of the process.
Succession involving heirs in four different countries: coordinated management across Italy, the United States, the United Kingdom and Switzerland
An Italian entrepreneur left assets located in Italy, the United States and Switzerland, with four heirs residing in four different countries. The matter required the parallel coordination of four legal systems and four tax regimes.
Adult adoption of a partner’s child: legal recognition of a twenty year family bond
A fifty eight year old man seeks to adopt his wife’s thirty year old son, whom he has helped raise for twenty years. Although the relationship was genuine and long established, it had no formal legal recognition, with significant implications for the biological children’s inheritance rights.
Challenging a will for infringement of forced heirship rights: €800,000 recovered for the heirs
Two children inherited only €20,000 each under a will that left almost the entire estate to their late father’s second wife. An action to enforce their forced heirship rights was successfully resolved through mediation.
Succession planning for a family business: transferring a €3 million business to the next generation
A sixty two year old entrepreneur needed to transfer ownership of a company employing fifty people to the son who had been managing the business, while safeguarding the interests of his daughter, who had chosen a different career path. A family agreement and a holding structure ensured business continuity and long term stability.
International adoption by a single parent: when the law opens a path few people know exists
A forty five year old single woman embarked on an international adoption. Although legally possible, this route remains little known and requires a carefully planned legal strategy from the very first stage, beginning with the application for the certificate of suitability.
Digital inheritance: recovering cryptocurrencies and digital assets after death
A professional passed away leaving more than €600,000 in cryptocurrencies held across multiple wallets and exchanges, without providing any access instructions. A substantial digital estate was at risk of being lost forever.
Legal name change for a transgender person: aligning official documents with gender identity
A thirty two year old professional, who had been undergoing hormone therapy for eight years, still had official documents bearing the male name assigned at birth. This discrepancy repeatedly forced unwanted disclosure of her gender identity in professional, banking and administrative settings.
Legal gender recognition and the update of more than 20 official documents: from court judgment to a new legal identity
A forty five year old executive had already obtained a court order granting legal gender recognition but was then faced with the real challenge: coordinating the update of an identity card, driving licence, university degree, employment records, mortgage documentation and insurance policies across multiple authorities, each with different procedures.
How can we help you
Boschetti Studio Legale is available to provide you assistance for questions linked to the support of parents and to situations in which the parents reside abroad.
Thanks to the matured experience in the field of international law, we can help you to overcome the legal complexities, ensuring that the support obligations are respected, regardless of the nationality of the parties involved, and therefore also when it concerns support of parents abroad.
If you need advice, contact the law firm to fix an appointment, the lawyers of our team are ready to offer you solutions, support and professionalism.
Fill in the form to allow us to assess your case. We will contact you back within 48 working hours to inform you whether and how we can assist you.
This form is reserved for those who need legal assistance on a concrete situation. We do not provide free advice nor answers to generic queries by email. If you have a case that requires professional assessment, fill in the form: we will contact you back for a first exploratory meeting.
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How much does a lawyer for support of children cost?
The cost of a lawyer for support of children may depend on various factors such as the complexity of the case, the duration of the proceeding and its nature (whether contentious), the location where the parties involved are located.
Generally, professionals establish rates based on the law. It is important to discuss costs preventively with the law firm to have a precise idea of the expenses to face.
What to do if the child does not want to take care of the parent?
If a child refuses to take care of the parent, contravening the civilistic regulation in this regard, it may be necessary to assess legal intervention to obtain the support owed, and therefore the moral and material assistance in favour of the parents borne by the children, by submitting a petition to the court.
When must a child economically help a parent?
A child has the obligation to economically help a parent when the latter is unable to autonomously provide for their own needs. This duty is provided for and regulated by Italian law, which establishes the support obligation for close relatives who are in a state of need. The extent of the contribution varies based on the financial capacities of the child, as well as on the needs of the parent.
What are the obligations of a child towards an elderly parent?
The obligations of a child towards an elderly parent include economic support, in the case in which the parent is in a state of financial difficulty, and moral and material assistance, as provided for by the Italian Codice civile.
This also includes the duty to ensure adequate care, especially in case of illness or incapacity.
Failure to comply with such obligations can lead to important consequences, also of a criminal nature.
When must children economically help the parents?
Children have the obligation to economically help the parents in the case in which the latter are unable to autonomously provide for their own needs. This duty is provided for and regulated by the Italian Codice civile, which expressly provides for the support obligation for close relatives who are in a state of difficulty. The amount of the contribution varies based on the financial capacities of the child, as well as on the needs of the parents.
Is someone born in Italy from foreign parents Italian?
No, those born in Italy from foreign parents are not automatically Italian. Italian citizenship is mainly based on the principle of ius sanguinis, that is the right of blood.
However, a child born in Italy from foreign parents can request citizenship upon reaching 18 years of age, if they have legally and uninterruptedly resided in Italy until that moment.
