What Parents Answer For
Fla. Stat. 741.24 — a child's willful destruction or theft, and actual damages
In Florida, a person, a business, a religious organization, or a public body such as a school district may sue the parents of a minor under 18 who lives with them, where the minor maliciously or willfully destroys or steals their property.
Actual damages, plus court costs. Recovery is limited to the actual damages, in addition to taxable court costs. The section sets no fixed dollar ceiling beyond that.
| The assumption | What the section actually does |
|---|---|
| The assumptionAny parent of any minor is liable | What the section actually doesThe parents of a minor under 18 who lives with them |
| The assumptionIt covers injuries to people | What the section actually doesIt speaks of property destroyed or stolen |
| The assumptionThere is a fixed cap | What the section actually doesActual damages and taxable court costs |
Whether an act was malicious or willful is decided on the facts, and a claim against the child directly, or for an injury to a person, runs under other law. A licensed Florida attorney reads a specific case.
Sources for this section (1)
- Fla. Stat. 741.24 — Civil action against parents; willful destruction or theft of property by minor
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Florida attorney.