What Parents Answer For
RCW 4.24.190 — a child's willful harm, and up to five thousand dollars
In Washington, the parents of a minor under eighteen who lives with them are liable in a civil action where the minor willfully or maliciously destroys or defaces property, or willfully and maliciously injures another person.
Up to five thousand dollars. The liability under the section is for damages not exceeding five thousand dollars. It does not limit what can be recovered from the parents for their own common law negligence.
| The assumption | What the section actually does |
|---|---|
| The assumptionOnly property damage counts | What the section actually doesProperty destroyed or defaced, or a person injured |
| The assumptionParents pay whatever the child caused | What the section actually doesUp to five thousand dollars under the section |
| The assumptionThe cap protects a careless parent | What the section actually doesA parent's own negligence is not limited by the section |
Whether an act was willful or malicious, and whether a parent was negligent, are decided on the facts. A licensed Washington attorney reads a specific case.
Sources for this section (1)
- RCW 4.24.190 — Action against parent for willful injury to person or property by minor: monetary limitation
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Washington attorney.