What Parents Answer For
N.J.S.A. 2A:53A-15 — a child's willful damage, where supervision failed
In New Jersey, a parent, guardian or other person with legal custody of a child under 18 who fails or neglects to exercise reasonable supervision and control of the child's conduct is liable in a civil action for the child's willful, malicious or unlawful injury to or destruction of another's real or personal property.
The test is supervision. Liability under the section turns on a failure or neglect to exercise reasonable supervision and control. The section sets no dollar figure of its own.
| The assumption | What the section actually does |
|---|---|
| The assumptionParents are liable for anything a child does | What the section actually doesWillful, malicious or unlawful damage to property, where supervision failed |
| The assumptionThere is a fixed cap | What the section actually doesThe section names no dollar limit |
| The assumptionOnly a parent can be liable | What the section actually doesA parent, guardian or other person with legal custody |
Whether supervision was reasonable is decided on the facts, and injuries to people and claims against the child directly run under other law. A licensed New Jersey attorney reads a specific case.
Sources for this section (1)
- N.J.S.A. 2A:53A-15 — Liability of parent or guardian for willful destruction of property by infant under 18
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed New Jersey attorney.