Liability of estate of public patient for maintenance

§ 21–1110. Liability of estate of public patient for maintenanceWhen the court orders the admission of a person to the District Training School as a public patient, and it appeal’s then or thereafter that, the patient has an estate out of which the Government may be reimbursed for his maintenance, in whole or in part, the court shall order the payment out of the estate of the whole or such part of the cost of maintenance of the patient at the institution as it deems just, regard being had for the needs of those having a legal right to support out of the est ate. The order shall remain in full force and effect unless modified by the court. Upon the death of the feeble-minded person while an inmate at the institution, or within five years after his discharge therefrom, his estate is liable to the District of Columbia for the cost of his maintenance at the institution, and the claim of the District of Columbia is a preferred claim.