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 Oklahoma, parents can be held legally responsible for the intentional, willful, or malicious acts of property damage committed by their minor children. This is in line with the general principle of parental liability for the actions of their minor children. Additionally, parents may be liable for negligent acts of their children if it can be proven that the parents were negligent in supervising the child, known as negligent supervision, or if they were negligent in entrusting their child with an instrumentality such as a car, gun, boat, or motorcycle, which is referred to as negligent entrustment. Oklahoma statutes may specify certain conditions, such as age and monetary limits, under which parental liability is applicable. These laws are designed to hold parents accountable for failing to prevent foreseeable harm caused by their children's actions when it is within their control to do so.