Are parents responsible for the debts of their adult child?

Verified 20 October 2025 - Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

Your child has a debt as a young adult. Do you have to repay this debt? We present you the information to know.

Vidéo - Are parents responsible for the children's debts?
Credits : Public Service (DILA)

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*Have you paid off your business school student loan?

*I'm having trouble...

*But how will you do it??

*My parents will surely pay it back

*They agree?

*I didn't ask them but they are obliged to pay my debts

Misconception?

Do parents have to pay off the debts of their adult child?

No, parents are not responsible for the debts of their adult child. The age of majority is 18 years. The child who has reached the age of majority is then responsible for the debts he or she incurs. He alone must assume his commitments. As such, he may be ordered by judgment to repay his debts. However, there is an exception. When the parents are surety for their adult child, such as for the rental of an apartment or for a loan, they can be sued as surety to repay the debts of their child, even adult. Apart from this exception, from the age of majority, young adults must carefully consider the scope of their commitments.

Parents are no longer responsible for their child from the age of majority.

At 18 years of age, the child may exercise its rights (voting, doing legal acts, concluding contracts...) and becomes responsible of his actions.

In case of debt

The adult child who takes on debts (rent debt, unpaid credit maturities, etc.) must pay for it.

On the other hand, when the parents are bail when concluding a contract (security for a residential lease, guarantee of a credit...), they must reimburse the unpaid in the event of non-payment by the adult child.

Parents who have paid the debt as surety may bring the matter before the court to request reimbursement of the amount by their child.

Similarly, in the event that their child dies, parents may be required to repay the debts of that child. This is the case if the parents are the heirs of their child and if they accept the succession.

FYI  

Although parents are not responsible for the debts of their adult child, they may be required to help their child under the maintenance obligation. The middle finger that justifies not being able to support himself can enter the Jaf: titleContent of a application for maintenance.

In case of infringement

The parents have none criminal liability when their child commits one infringement. That's why it's at the child to pay his fines.

In the same way the adult child must ensure compensation for the damage he causes to possible victims (damagesreparations, restitution).

On the other hand, if the child of full age is tried for offenses committed when he was a minor, its parents stay civilly responsible. In the event of an order for damages, the civil party may request payment of the sum from both the parents and the adult child.

FYI  

Parents are not automatically liable for damage caused by their child emancipated.

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