Parental Liability

Parents may be liable for the negligent or criminal acts of their children, beginning when children are age eight to 10 and ending at the age of majority. This means parents are subject to lawsuits or criminal sanctions in some circumstances if their children commit crimes or cause injuries or property damage to a third party. This section covers the basics of parental liability, including criminal and civil liability, and the implications of parental liability on insurance coverage. Also included is a summary of parental liability laws in select states.

Learn About Parental Liability

Parental Liability Basics
Learn when a parent might be responsible for the acts of her minor child, the difference between criminal and civil liability, and when insurance might step in to cover any resulting expenses.
Parental Civil Liability
Find out when a parent may be legally forced to pay for a child’s actions, including the damage a child may do when improperly supervised, or with the family car.
Parental Criminal Liability
Children can get into all kinds of trouble – from playing with firearms to hacking into someone else’s database. Learn when parents are deemed liable for these kinds of events.

When Can You Leave a Child Home Alone?
As children grow older, they naturally take on more and more responsibility. Read on to find out what the legal system considers to be a reasonable age to leave children unsupervised.
Parent Liability: Selected State Laws
Parental liability varies from state to state. Here are a few examples of state laws illustrating the kinds of responsibilities parents have for the actions of their children.
Intake Form: Parents Seeking Legal Representation on Behalf of Their Child
Your child may need a lawyer to represent himself. Because he’s a minor, he cannot contract with an attorney or act as his own agent, so a lawyer will need some special information from you.

Parental Liability Articles