Parenting Babysitting Legal Concerns

What are you required to do?

According to Louisiana law, you must educate your child until they are 18 years old*, provide the basic necessities of life for them, and administer any inheritance due them. Parents are liable for damages their minor child causes whether or not the parents were negligent in the parental duties. Good insurance coverage (general liability portion of homeowner's policy) is important to have.

*until age 19 if enrolled in a secondary school full time

Babysitting

Emergency - When you leave your child in the care of another person be it a grandparent, sibling or someone left in charge of your child you need to give consent to medical treatment if necessary if you will be out of touch at all...in writing. Make a copy of your insurance card, front and back. Leave these things in a safe place in case of the dreaded emergency. Also, when your child gets older (teenage) you will need to remember to use the same form & insurance card when they leave your care for an extended time.

Payment: If a babysitter is used on a regular basis, understand that you may have some obligations as an employer. The income paid to the baby sitter may need to be reported to the IRS so that taxes can be withheld. Check with your accountant.