What Parents Answer For
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 537.045 — a judgment against the child, and up to two thousand dollars from the parent
In Missouri, the parent or guardian of an unemancipated minor under eighteen in their care and custody, foster parents excluded, is liable to pay a judgment against the minor for purposely damaging property or purposely causing personal injury, up to two thousand dollars, if the parent or guardian was joined as a defendant in the original action.
Only if joined in the case. The parent's liability under the section depends on having been made a party defendant in the original action. Payment by the parent does not bar a criminal case, or a proceeding against the minor for the rest of the judgment.
Work in place of payment. On a judgment, the judge may order the parent or guardian and the minor to work for the person harmed instead of paying, if the parent, the minor and that person all agree.
| The assumption | What the section actually does |
|---|---|
| The assumptionParents pay the whole judgment | What the section actually doesUp to two thousand dollars |
| The assumptionFoster parents are liable too | What the section actually doesFoster parents are excluded |
| The assumptionA parent pays even if never sued | What the section actually doesOnly a parent joined as a defendant in the original action |
Whether an act was done purposely is decided on the facts, and the rest of a judgment against the minor is pursued under other law. A licensed Missouri attorney reads a specific case.
Sources for this section (1)
- Mo. Rev. Stat. § 537.045 — Parent or guardian liable for damages by minor, when, limitation
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Missouri attorney.