Can a minor sue their parents?

Asked by: Julien Schneider  |  Last update: August 17, 2025
Score: 4.1/5 (75 votes)

In general, minors cannot sue their parents as they are protected by the doctrine of parental immunity. This doctrine holds that parents cannot be sued by their children for injuries that occur in the course of a familial relationship. Maryland has this rule as well but has a car accident exception.

Can a child sue their own parents?

Yes, children can sue their parents for certain civil causes of action, and indeed, usually, those claims would be tolled during periods of being under the age of majority when there is not guardian or conservator appointed for the child.

What is the youngest age you can sue?

How old do you have to be to sue in the US? Individuals aged 18 and above have the right to file a Small Claims case. Those under 18 require legal representation by a certified attorney. Individuals and businesses need to ensure they are using their official legal name when initiating or being involved in a lawsuit.

Can a child sue their parents for being born?

No. No legal system anywhere at any time has recognised any basis for a person to sue their parents for wrongful birth. Not under any circumstances, not for any reasons. ``I didn't ask to be born'' is and always will be just an illogical retort.

What are the reasons you can sue your parents?

Physical abuse (non-accidental physical injury) Neglect (failure to provide for a child's basic needs, including physical, medical, emotional, and educational) Abandonment. Emotional/psychological/mental abuse (Includes terrorizing a child with threats of violence or abandonment)

I SUED MY SPERM DONOR #isatandstared

24 related questions found

Can a child sue a parent for child support?

The laws on suing for back child support differ from state to state. Some states have a statute of limitations on enforcing a court order. In California, a parent or child has 10 years to launch a lawsuit. 10 years past the child's 19th birthday, if the child was in high school past their 18th.

Can parents be held liable?

In the state of California, a parent or legal guardian can be held liable when a minor damages property or causes personal injury.

Did a girl sue her parents for having her?

A woman from New Jersey, United States, claimed that she sued her parents for giving birth to her without her consent. She joked that "they didn't try to contact me in anyway before I was born to see if I actually wanted to be here." Kass Theaz, the TikToker mentions in her bio that her account is "satire".

How do you deal with a nasty parent?

How to Deal With Toxic Parents
  1. Common Toxic Traits.
  2. Get Rid of Guilt.
  3. Don't Try to Change Them.
  4. Boundaries Are Key.
  5. No Need to Explain.
  6. Practice Self-Care.
  7. Set Up a Support System.
  8. Change Your Story.

Can I sue my parents for circumcising me?

If the procedure was not medically necessary and was an elective procedure that was done wrongfully, performing a circumcision on a baby when consent was not given may be considered legal battery and medical malpractice. An elective procedure performed without valid and informed consent is an illegal procedure.

What is parental immunity?

Parental immunity is a legal principle that says children cannot sue their parents, and parents cannot sue their children, for tort claims. This means that if a child is injured by their parent's negligence, they cannot sue their parent for damages.

What describes an emancipated minor?

In general, minors who are married, on active duty status in the military, or living separately from their parents or legal guardians and independently managing their own financial affairs are considered emancipated.

Can you press charges on a minor for false accusations?

If it can be proven that the accusation was false they could be charged with filing a false police report and maybe perjury if it got to court. The authorities would have to be pretty certain that it was a false accusation to do this.

Can I sue my biological parents?

There is a specific scenario where a child can legally sue a parent for back child support. This is possible when the child is a court-appointed representative of the custodial parent's estate, for instance, if the custodial parent has deceased and bequeathed their estate to the child.

Can a parent sue a minor?

In California, minors cannot be sued directly in the same way as adults. However, they can be held responsible for a car accident using other legal avenues.

Can I sue a family?

Do Not Hesitate to Sue a Family Member When They Have Caused You Losses. You should not avoid suing someone just because they are family. A family relationship certainly did not stop them from breaching the duties that they owed to you.

What is toxic parent behavior?

A toxic parent is someone whose chronic behavior inflicts emotional, mental, or physical harm on their child. They might be manipulative, controlling, or unstable, and they might not always recognize what they're doing or how their actions are impacting their kids.

What is cold mother syndrome?

Cold mother syndrome refers to a parenting style characterized by emotional distance, dismissiveness, and rejection. This type of mothering is often accompanied by a lack of emotional availability and neglect of a child's emotional needs.

How do you outsmart toxic parents?

10 tips for dealing with toxic parents
  1. Stop trying to please them. ...
  2. Set and enforce boundaries. ...
  3. Don't try to change them. ...
  4. Be mindful of what you share with them. ...
  5. Know your parents' limitations and work around them — but only if you want to. ...
  6. Have an exit strategy. ...
  7. Don't try to reason with them.

Can a 13 year old sue their parents?

At common law (law made through court decisions), minor children have the right to sue and be sued. But, they do not have the legal capacity to take part in litigation in their own names. During minority, they have to act in court through an adult.

Can a child sue their mother?

Children cannot sue their parents in many states. In general, minors cannot sue their parents as they are protected by the doctrine of parental immunity. This doctrine holds that parents cannot be sued by their children for injuries that occur in the course of a familial relationship.

How old was sue when she had her first child?

Sue was 14 and Noel was 18 when they had their first child. Sue was 13 when she first fell pregnant. The couple has published their joint book titled 'The Radfords: Making Life Count', where they discuss their ages when Sue first became pregnant.

At what age is a parent not legally responsible?

The Duration of Parents' Legal Obligations: The Basics

In most states, parental obligations typically end when a child reaches the age of majority, 18 years old. But, check the laws of your state, as the age of majority can be different from one state to the next.

Can your parents control you at 16?

The law gives parents the responsibility to control their children, but does very little in providing the means of control for 16- and 17-year olds. Parents are also responsible for certain property damage that their children may cause.

At what age does a child become morally responsible for his actions?

To the legal system, the answer is clear: children have the requisite moral sense--the ability to tell right from wrong--by age 7 to 15, depending on which state they live in, and so can be held responsible for their actions.