Aliment

Aliment, in the law of France and in that of Scotland, has retained the meaning which it possessed in the Roman law (Dig. 34, 1, 6), and signifies the food, dwelling, clothing, and other things necessary to the support of life, or such money as may be judicially demanded in lieu of them. Fathers are liable to aliment children so long as the latter are unable to support themselves; and in the higher ranks still longer, if the child be destitute, especially in the case of daughters. The obligation extends to a son's wife in the higher ranks during the son's life. The duty devolves on the father's representatives, and also on the mother, if the father be indigent or dead. The grandfather must aliment his destitute grandchildren. The obligation in every case is satisfied by a bare subsistence, although this may vary slightly according to the social position of the parties. Children are liable to aliment indigent parents. A husband is liable to aliment his wife, and also his wife's indigent parents during the marriage; but in the case of both wife and child, it is enough to offer them a home. The liability to aliment a wife is not terminated by a judicial separation, but only by divorce. Persons unable to support themselves, through age, or bodily or mental disease, are entitled to relief under the poor-law, but this aliment may be recovered from the pauper's relatives. Money may be settled in trust for the aliment of persons, so as to exclude the diligence of creditors.