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 Iowa, parents can be held liable for the intentional or malicious acts of property damage committed by their minor children under certain circumstances. Iowa Code section 613.16 states that parents or guardians are responsible for the damages caused by their minor child's wrongful acts when the act is done willfully or maliciously. The law caps the liability at $2,000 for each act or occurrence. Additionally, parents may be liable for their child's negligent actions if it can be proven that the parents were negligent in supervising the child or in entrusting them with an instrumentality, such as a vehicle or firearm, which then leads to injury or damage. This concept of negligent entrustment recognizes that parents have a duty to prevent foreseeable harm by not allowing their children access to potentially dangerous items if the children are not competent to handle them safely. It's important to note that the specifics of these laws can be complex, and the application of liability may depend on the individual circumstances of each case.