Updating the database of the Illinois Compiled Statutes (ILCS) is an ongoing process. Recent laws may not yet be included in the ILCS database, but they are found on this site as Public Acts soon after they become law. For information concerning the relationship between statutes and Public Acts, refer to the Guide.

Because the statute database is maintained primarily for legislative drafting purposes, statutory changes are sometimes included in the statute database before they take effect. If the source note at the end of a Section of the statutes includes a Public Act that has not yet taken effect, the version of the law that is currently in effect may have already been removed from the database and you should refer to that Public Act to see the changes made to the current law.

740 ILCS 115/1

(740 ILCS 115/1) (from Ch. 70, par. 51)

Sec. 1.

This Act shall be known and may be cited as the Parental Responsibility Law.

(Source: P.A. 76-1679.)

740 ILCS 115/2

(740 ILCS 115/2) (from Ch. 70, par. 52)

Sec. 2.

As used in this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, the
terms specified have the meanings ascribed to them:

(1) "Legal guardian" means a person appointed guardian, or given
custody, of a minor by a circuit court of the State, but does not include a
person appointed guardian, or given custody, of a minor under the Juvenile
Court Act or the Juvenile Court Act of 1987.

(2) "Minor" means a person who is above the age of 11 years, but not yet
19 years of age.

(Source: P.A. 85-1209.)

740 ILCS 115/3

(740 ILCS 115/3) (from Ch. 70, par. 53)

Sec. 3. Liability.

The parent or legal guardian of an unemancipated minor who resides with
such parent or legal guardian is liable for actual damages for the wilful
or malicious acts of such minor which cause injury to a person or property,
including damages caused by a minor who has been adjudicated a delinquent for
violating
Section 21-1.3 of the Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012.
Reasonable attorney's fees may be awarded to any plaintiff in any action under this Act. If the plaintiff is a governmental unit, reasonable attorney's fees may be awarded up to $15,000.

The changes to this Section made by this amendatory Act of the 95th General Assembly apply to causes of action accruing on or after its effective date.

(Source: P.A. 97-1150, eff. 1-25-13.)

740 ILCS 115/4

(740 ILCS 115/4) (from Ch. 70, par. 54)

Sec. 4.

Any municipal corporation, county, township, village or any other
political subdivision or department of the State of Illinois, or the United
States or any of its instrumentalities, or any
person, partnership, corporation, association or any incorporated or
unincorporated religious, educational or charitable organization is
entitled to enforce the liability imposed by this Act.

(Source: P.A. 88-406.)

740 ILCS 115/5

(740 ILCS 115/5) (from Ch. 70, par. 55)

Sec. 5. Limitation on damages; damages allowable.


No recovery under
this Act may exceed $20,000 actual damages for each
person, or legal entity as provided in Section 4 of this Act, for the first act or 
occurrence of such wilful or malicious acts by the minor causing injury,
and $30,000 if a pattern or practice of wilful or malicious acts by a minor exists for a separate act or occurrence, in addition to taxable court costs and attorney's fees. In determining the
damages to be
allowed in an action under this Act for personal injury, only medical,
dental and hospital expenses and expenses for treatment by Christian Science
practitioners and nursing care appropriate thereto may be considered.

The changes to this Section made by this amendatory Act of the 95th General Assembly apply to causes of action accruing on or after its effective date.

(Source: P.A. 94-130, eff. 7-7-05; 95-914, eff. 1-1-09.)

740 ILCS 115/6

(740 ILCS 115/6) (from Ch. 70, par. 56)

Sec. 6.

This Act shall not affect the recovery of damages in any other cause of
action where the liability of the parent or legal guardian is predicated on
a common law basis.

(Source: P.A. 76-1679.)

740 ILCS 115/7

(740 ILCS 115/7) (from Ch. 70, par. 57)

Sec. 7.

Section 12-107 of the Code of Civil Procedure, as now or hereafter
amended,
is not applicable to judgments obtained under this Act.

(Source: P.A. 82-783.)