What Parents Answer For
Crim. Proc. § 11-604 — restitution from a parent, up to $10,000 an incident
In Maryland, when a child is the defendant or child respondent in a case, the court may order the child, the child's parent, or both to pay restitution.
$10,000 is the absolute limit. A judgment of restitution for $10,000 under that part of the subtitle is the absolute limit for each child's acts arising out of a single incident.
A hearing first. The court may not enter a judgment of restitution against a parent unless the parent has had a reasonable opportunity to be heard and to present evidence, and that hearing may be part of the sentencing or disposition hearing.
| The assumption | What the section actually does |
|---|---|
| The assumptionA parent can be ordered to pay without a word | What the section actually doesNot without a reasonable opportunity to be heard and present evidence |
| The assumptionThere is no ceiling | What the section actually does$10,000 for each child's acts in a single incident |
| The assumptionOnly the child can be ordered to pay | What the section actually doesThe child, the parent, or both |
This is restitution in a case where the child is the defendant or respondent; a separate civil suit runs under other law. What restitution covers is set by the subtitle's other sections. A licensed Maryland attorney reads a specific case.
Sources for this section (1)
- Md. Code, Crim. Proc. § 11-604 — Restitution: a child's parent, and the limit for a single incident
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Maryland attorney.