What the Law Says About Kids Being ‘Home Alone’ in Massachusetts

In Home Alone, little Kevin McCallister accidentally gets left behind by his family as they fly to France for Christmas vacation. If you've seen the holiday classic even once in the last 30 years, you know everything turns out fine for the boy despite him encountering two not-so-nice guys. In real life, the situation could have turned out differently.

So, what does the law say about leaving kids at home alone? How old do the kiddos have to be for it to be legally OK?

In Massachisetts, it turns out, there is no age limit when it comes to leaving your children at home.

Get our free mobile app

Go ahead and Google it if you don't believe us. There is no written law stating an age anywhere. In some states, the minimum age is spelled out, and usually between 9 and 13. Some states even have time limits. For example, in Georgia, you can leave a child between 9 and 12  alone for no more than two hours.

For the record, Home Alone was filmed in Illinois where the law states that no child under 14 is allowed to be left alone. It makes you wonder if the McCallisters faced legal consequences.