In In re Marriage of Comer (1996) 14 Cal.4th 504, the father lived with his wife and children until the couple separated and the wife filed for divorce. The wife moved and the father did not see his children for over seven years. Comer held a noncustodial parent's duty to support his children is not relieved by the custodial parent's concealment of the children (see 3556) and alleged improper conduct by the custodial parent will not operate to prevent the county, as provider of public assistance payments, from obtaining reimbursement for payments made. Comer did not reach the issue of "separation" between parent and child because there was a traditional separation under the facts of the case. In other words, the father in Comer was aware of his children and his support obligations.