My 2 cents, I believe cj is correct as to the issue of Maintenance Bond. When you consider today if a wife and husband separate, there is an obligation to one or the other of "separate maintenance". I believe in this case, if both parents died and a relative or foster family took in the children and there was an estate left, the relative or foster family would have to account for the expenses of these children and would be paid from the estate accordingly. Thanks for the encouragement, cj. Pam did come through with info regarding Robert Busby and kept my interest alive on this board. I really appreciated your words. Marsha McGee Bowen At 01:08 PM 8/23/99 -0500, you wrote: >Hello >I think you are on the right track. If you break it down, 'maintenance' >could simply mean to take care of a person or persons and 'bond' could mean >money. Therefore, it would be like an account to take care of a person or >persons who were unable to take care of themselves. It could be a minor, or >a disabled or mentally challenged person. Like a foster family. Think? >