What Parents Answer For
Va. Code 8.01-44 — a child's willful damage, and up to $2,500 from the parents
In Virginia, the owner of any property may recover from the parents, or either of them, of a minor living with them, for damage suffered from the minor's willful or malicious destruction of or damage to that property.
Up to $2,500 an incident. No more than $2,500 may be recovered from the parents for any one incident or occurrence. Recovery from the parents does not prevent full recovery from the minor, except by the amount the parents paid.
| The assumption | What the section actually does |
|---|---|
| The assumptionParents pay whatever the child caused | What the section actually doesUp to $2,500 for one incident |
| The assumptionOnce the parents pay, the child owes nothing | What the section actually doesThe minor can still be pursued for the rest |
| The assumptionThis is the only law on it | What the section actually doesIt adds to, and does not replace, other law making parents liable |
The section speaks of property; injuries to people run under other law. Whether an act was willful or malicious is decided on the facts. A licensed Virginia attorney reads a specific case.
Sources for this section (1)
- Va. Code 8.01-44 — Action against parent for damage to private 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 Virginia attorney.