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.