"Murphy thought that at the very least, she's going to be looking at a humongous bill that she (her family) will have to pay back to local, state and federal agencies"
The woman is in her 30's and thus her family is responsible for nothing she does, as she is an "adult" (in name only). Also, as her husband-to-be's father is a judge in Duluth, and was once the Mayor; you can bet that he will make sure there will be no bill presented to Jennifer. In particular, if his son and Jennifer do end up getting married, so that his son, John, will not be liable for any debts that might be incurred from this "event" by Jennifer.
Surely the son can not be that stupid and have survived to adulthood.