Iowa Code

Iowa Code § 613.16 (2026)

Parental responsibility for actions of children

✓ current as of July 2026

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1. The parent or parents of an unemancipated minor child under the age of eighteen years shall be liable for actual damages to person or property caused by unlawful acts of such child. However, a parent who is not entitled to legal custody of the minor child at the time of the unlawful act shall not be liable for such damages.

2. The legal obligation of the parent or parents of an unemancipated minor child under the age of eighteen years to pay damages shall be limited as follows:

a. Not more than two thousand dollars for any one act.

b. Not more than five thousand dollars, payable to the same claimant, for two or more acts.

3. The word “person” for the purpose of this section shall include firm, association, partnership or corporation. \n Tue Dec 09 21:59:34 2025 Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 613 (28, 1) §613.16, PARTIES — CAUSES OF ACTION — LIABILITY 4\n\n 4. When an action is brought on parental responsibility for acts of their children, the parents shall be named as defendants therein and, in addition, the minor child shall be named as a defendant. The filing of an answer by the parents shall remove any requirement that a guardian ad litem be required. [C71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §613.16] 94 Acts, ch 1172, §40 Referred to in §624.38, 645.3 \n

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 4 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1986–2024 · leading case: Anne Hensler Vs. City Of Davenport, 790 N.W.2d 569 (Iowa 2010).

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Anne Hensler Vs. City Of Davenport, 790 N.W.2d 569 (Iowa 2010). · cites it 4× “See Iowa Code § 613.16 . The ordinance does not attempt to lower the due process standards of the juvenile court, but instead holds parents liable for the delinquency of their children.”

Smith Ex Rel. Est. of Smith v. Shaffer, 395 N.W.2d 853 (Iowa 1986). · cites it 2× “Plaintiffs make no claim under Iowa Code section 613.16 (parents liable up to $1000 for unlawful acts of unemancipated children).”

In Re William George T., 599 A.2d 886 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. 1992). “020 (1990); Iowa, Iowa Code Ann. § 613.16 (West Supp.1991); Oregon, Or.”

Levine v. Boyd (Iowa Ct. App. 2024). · cites it 8× “” Iowa Code § 613.16 (1) (emphasis added). The court reasoned that because the Boyds and R.”

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