Short answer. Yes, generally. Article 2164 of the Civil Code gives a stranger who provided support the right to claim reimbursement from the person legally obliged to give it — unless you gave the support out of pure piety with no intention of being repaid. If you expected reimbursement, the right to claim it exists.
What the law says
When, without the knowledge of the person obliged to give support, it is given by a stranger, the latter shall have a right to claim the same from the former, unless it appears that he gave it out of piety and without intention of being repaid.
Civil Code, Article 2164 — Support Furnished by a Stranger. Read the full provision →
The quasi-contract of support by a stranger
Article 2164 of the Civil Code addresses what happens when a third party steps in to provide support that someone else was legally required to give. The law treats this as a quasi-contract — an obligation arising not from a formal agreement but from the circumstances and the principle against unjust enrichment. The person legally obliged to give support was essentially freed from their duty at another's expense. Article 2164 refuses to allow that. The stranger who supplied the support has the right to claim it from the person who was obliged.
The condition: given without the obligor's knowledge
Article 2164 applies when, without the knowledge of the person obliged to give support, it is given by a stranger. The provision targets situations where the stranger stepped in independently — not at the request or with the consent of the obligor. If the family knew you were providing support and tacitly allowed it without objecting, a different analysis applies. But the typical case the article covers is the one you describe: the family refused to help, you provided for the relative without asking the family's permission or informing them, and you now want to be compensated for what you spent.
The exception: piety without intent to be repaid
The right to claim reimbursement disappears if it appears that you gave the support out of piety and without intention of being repaid. This is a practical exception for situations where the stranger clearly acted as a genuine act of charity or compassion, with no expectation of recovering costs. The burden to show this exception applies would fall on the obligor who is resisting reimbursement — they would need to show that you intended the support as a gift. Your own contemporaneous statements, conduct, and relationship to the recipient are relevant to whether this exception applies.
What you should document
To successfully claim reimbursement, gather records of what you actually spent: receipts for food, lodging, medicines, or other necessities you provided. Note the period of support and the amounts involved. If you have any communications where you indicated you expected to be compensated, or where the family acknowledged the obligation, preserve those. The amount you can claim is the cost of the support you actually provided — not more. The obligor's financial capacity also matters: support obligations are assessed in proportion to both the needs of the recipient and the means of the obligor. A lawyer can advise you on how to formalize the claim against the obligor.