New Jersey § 44:7-19

§ 44:7-19.

The county director of welfare in cases of application for old age assistance shall

ascertain, if possible, the relatives and other persons chargeable by law for the

support of such applicant, and proceed to obtain their assistance for such applicant

or to compel them to render such assistance as is provided by law in such cases, or

if such relatives or other persons are not chargeable by law with the support of such

applicant but able and willing to do so, in whole or in part, the director of welfare

may contract, in writing, with such persons for the support of such applicant. Should any relative or other person responsible for the support of an applicant for

old age assistance fail to perform the order or direction of the director of welfare

with regard to the support of such applicant, the Superior Court may, upon certification

in writing of the director of welfare or of two residents of the municipality or county,

summon or otherwise direct the appearance of the persons chargeable and subpoena witnesses,

and compel the production of books, records, and other documents as may be pertinent,

and shall, in a summary way, inquire into the cause of such failure to perform the

order or direction of the director of welfare, and may order and adjudge the able

relatives or other persons responsible for the support of such applicant to pay such

sum or to deliver to the court or to the director of welfare such other pledge or

guaranty as the circumstances may require in the discretion of the court for each

such applicant. However, where it shall appear that the person or persons sought to be held were

the child or children of the applicant for old age assistance and were abandoned and

deserted by the applicant who failed to support and maintain them during minority,

the Superior Court may revoke the order of the director of welfare or reduce the amount

of said order against such child or children, in proportion to the actual support

and maintenance rendered by said applicant to the child or children sought to be held. Any child now under an order to support an applicant for old age assistance may

apply to the Superior Court which issued said order for the revocation or reduction

of said order in accordance with the terms of this provision. Violation of any such order of the court shall be a contempt of said court and punishable

as such. The county welfare board may also bring appropriate action in any court of competent

jurisdiction to recover any sum of money due for assistance given any person under

this chapter against such person or against any other persons chargeable by law for

the support of such person.