Parents are generally responsible for (have liability for) intentional, willful, and malicious property damage done by their minor child. Parents may also be liable for the negligent acts of their minor child if the parents were (1) negligent in supervising the child (negligent supervision), or (2) negligent in entrusting the use of a car, gun, boat, motorcycle, or other item (often called an instrumentality) to the child (negligent entrustment).

These parental liability laws vary from state to state; often include age and monetary limits; and may be included in your state’s statutes—often in the family code.

In California, parents can be held liable for the intentional or willful acts of property damage committed by their minor children under California Civil Code Section 1714.1. This liability is capped at $25,000 for each tort of the minor, not including any court costs or attorney's fees. Additionally, parents may also be responsible for their child's negligent acts if the parents failed to exercise proper supervision (negligent supervision) or if they negligently entrusted their child with an instrumentality, such as a car or firearm, that could foreseeably cause harm (negligent entrustment). The liability for negligent entrustment is not capped by the statute, but is instead determined by the common law principle of foreseeability of harm. It's important to note that these laws are subject to certain conditions and exceptions, and the specific circumstances of each case can significantly affect the extent of parental liability.