What Parents Answer For
Minn. Stat. 540.18 — a child's willful harm, and up to $1,000
In Minnesota, the parent or guardian of a minor under 18 who lives with them, and who willfully or maliciously injures a person or damages property, is jointly and severally liable with the minor, if the minor would have been liable as an adult.
Up to $1,000, and special damages only. The parent's liability is for an amount not exceeding $1,000, and recovery under the section is limited to special damages. It adds to, and does not replace, any other liability, and does not relieve the minor of personal liability.
The section does not apply to those who have custody or charge of a minor under the authority of the state's Human Services or Corrections Department.
| The assumption | What the section actually does |
|---|---|
| The assumptionParents pay whatever the child caused | What the section actually doesUp to $1,000, limited to special damages |
| The assumptionPaying ends the child's liability | What the section actually doesThe minor stays personally liable |
| The assumptionAny parent anywhere is liable | What the section actually doesA parent or guardian the minor lives with |
Whether an act was willful or malicious is decided on the facts, and other liability that exists at law runs under its own rules. A licensed Minnesota attorney reads a specific case.
Sources for this section (1)
- Minn. Stat. 540.18 — Damage by minor; responsibility of parent, guardian, and minor
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Minnesota attorney.