diff --git a/lib/active_model/serializable_resource.rb b/lib/active_model/serializable_resource.rb
index ec83fcfc..40f09a50 100644
--- a/lib/active_model/serializable_resource.rb
+++ b/lib/active_model/serializable_resource.rb
@@ -16,6 +16,19 @@ module ActiveModel
       @resource = resource
       @adapter_opts, @serializer_opts =
         options.partition { |k, _| ADAPTER_OPTION_KEYS.include? k }.map { |h| Hash[h] }
+
+      # TECHDEBT: clean up single vs. collection of resources
+      if resource.respond_to?(:each)
+        if resource.any? { |elem| elem.respond_to?(:errors) && !elem.errors.empty? }
+          @serializer_opts[:serializer] = ActiveModel::Serializer::ErrorSerializer
+          @adapter_opts[:adapter] = :'json_api/error'
+        end
+      else
+        if resource.respond_to?(:errors) && !resource.errors.empty?
+          @serializer_opts[:serializer] = ActiveModel::Serializer::ErrorSerializer
+          @adapter_opts[:adapter] = :'json_api/error'
+        end
+      end
     end
 
     def serialization_scope=(scope)
diff --git a/lib/active_model/serializer.rb b/lib/active_model/serializer.rb
index 64bff0ec..6835e978 100644
--- a/lib/active_model/serializer.rb
+++ b/lib/active_model/serializer.rb
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 require 'thread_safe'
 require 'active_model/serializer/collection_serializer'
 require 'active_model/serializer/array_serializer'
+require 'active_model/serializer/error_serializer'
 require 'active_model/serializer/include_tree'
 require 'active_model/serializer/associations'
 require 'active_model/serializer/attributes'
diff --git a/lib/active_model/serializer/error_serializer.rb b/lib/active_model/serializer/error_serializer.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e4451afe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/active_model/serializer/error_serializer.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+class ActiveModel::Serializer::ErrorSerializer < ActiveModel::Serializer
+end
diff --git a/lib/active_model/serializer/lint.rb b/lib/active_model/serializer/lint.rb
index b2bc48ff..b791d40d 100644
--- a/lib/active_model/serializer/lint.rb
+++ b/lib/active_model/serializer/lint.rb
@@ -129,6 +129,20 @@ module ActiveModel::Serializer::Lint
       assert_instance_of resource_class.model_name, ActiveModel::Name
     end
 
+    def test_active_model_errors
+      assert_respond_to resource, :errors
+    end
+
+    def test_active_model_errors_human_attribute_name
+      assert_respond_to resource.class, :human_attribute_name
+      assert_equal(-2, resource.class.method(:human_attribute_name).arity)
+    end
+
+    def test_active_model_errors_lookup_ancestors
+      assert_respond_to resource.class, :lookup_ancestors
+      assert_equal 0, resource.class.method(:lookup_ancestors).arity
+    end
+
     private
 
     def resource
diff --git a/lib/active_model_serializers.rb b/lib/active_model_serializers.rb
index e75e30a0..bf2dac13 100644
--- a/lib/active_model_serializers.rb
+++ b/lib/active_model_serializers.rb
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ module ActiveModelSerializers
   autoload :Logging
   autoload :Test
   autoload :Adapter
+  autoload :JsonPointer
 
   class << self; attr_accessor :logger; end
   self.logger = ActiveSupport::TaggedLogging.new(ActiveSupport::Logger.new(STDOUT))
diff --git a/lib/active_model_serializers/adapter/json_api.rb b/lib/active_model_serializers/adapter/json_api.rb
index 841185f0..c0631400 100644
--- a/lib/active_model_serializers/adapter/json_api.rb
+++ b/lib/active_model_serializers/adapter/json_api.rb
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ module ActiveModelSerializers
       require 'active_model/serializer/adapter/json_api/meta'
       autoload :Deserialization
       require 'active_model/serializer/adapter/json_api/api_objects'
+      autoload :Error
 
       # TODO: if we like this abstraction and other API objects to it,
       # then extract to its own file and require it.
diff --git a/lib/active_model_serializers/adapter/json_api/error.rb b/lib/active_model_serializers/adapter/json_api/error.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..74321baf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/active_model_serializers/adapter/json_api/error.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,92 @@
+module ActiveModelSerializers
+  module Adapter
+    class JsonApi < Base
+      class Error < Base
+=begin
+## http://jsonapi.org/format/#document-top-level
+
+A document MUST contain at least one of the following top-level members:
+
+- data: the document's "primary data"
+- errors: an array of error objects
+- meta: a meta object that contains non-standard meta-information.
+
+The members data and errors MUST NOT coexist in the same document.
+
+## http://jsonapi.org/format/#error-objects
+
+Error objects provide additional information about problems encountered while performing an operation. Error objects MUST be returned as an array keyed by errors in the top level of a JSON API document.
+
+An error object MAY have the following members:
+
+- id: a unique identifier for this particular occurrence of the problem.
+- links: a links object containing the following members:
+- about: a link that leads to further details about this particular occurrence of the problem.
+- status: the HTTP status code applicable to this problem, expressed as a string value.
+- code: an application-specific error code, expressed as a string value.
+- title: a short, human-readable summary of the problem that SHOULD NOT change from occurrence to occurrence of the problem, except for purposes of localization.
+- detail: a human-readable explanation specific to this occurrence of the problem.
+- source: an object containing references to the source of the error, optionally including any of the following members:
+-  pointer: a JSON Pointer [RFC6901] to the associated entity in the request document [e.g. "/data" for a primary data object, or "/data/attributes/title" for a specific attribute].
+-  parameter: a string indicating which query parameter caused the error.
+- meta: a meta object containing non-standard meta-information about the error.
+
+=end
+        def self.attributes(attribute_name, attribute_errors)
+          attribute_errors.map do |attribute_error|
+            {
+              source: { pointer: ActiveModelSerializers::JsonPointer.new(:attribute, attribute_name) },
+              detail: attribute_error
+            }
+          end
+        end
+
+        def serializable_hash(*)
+          @result = []
+          # TECHDEBT: clean up single vs. collection of resources
+          if serializer.object.respond_to?(:each)
+            @result = collection_errors.flat_map do |collection_error|
+              collection_error.flat_map do |attribute_name, attribute_errors|
+                attribute_error_objects(attribute_name, attribute_errors)
+              end
+            end
+          else
+            @result = object_errors.flat_map do |attribute_name, attribute_errors|
+              attribute_error_objects(attribute_name, attribute_errors)
+            end
+          end
+          { root => @result }
+        end
+
+        def fragment_cache(cached_hash, non_cached_hash)
+          JsonApi::FragmentCache.new.fragment_cache(root, cached_hash, non_cached_hash)
+        end
+
+        def root
+          'errors'.freeze
+        end
+
+        private
+
+        # @return [Array<symbol, Array<String>] i.e. attribute_name, [attribute_errors]
+        def object_errors
+          cache_check(serializer) do
+            serializer.object.errors.messages
+          end
+        end
+
+        def collection_errors
+          cache_check(serializer) do
+            serializer.object.flat_map do |elem|
+              elem.errors.messages
+            end
+          end
+        end
+
+        def attribute_error_objects(attribute_name, attribute_errors)
+          Error.attributes(attribute_name, attribute_errors)
+        end
+      end
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/lib/active_model_serializers/json_pointer.rb b/lib/active_model_serializers/json_pointer.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c6ba2dc3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/active_model_serializers/json_pointer.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+module ActiveModelSerializers
+  module JsonPointer
+    module_function
+
+    POINTERS = {
+      attribute:    '/data/attributes/%s'.freeze,
+      primary_data: '/data'.freeze
+    }.freeze
+
+    def new(pointer_type, value = nil)
+      format(POINTERS[pointer_type], value)
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/lib/active_model_serializers/model.rb b/lib/active_model_serializers/model.rb
index 3043c389..62971392 100644
--- a/lib/active_model_serializers/model.rb
+++ b/lib/active_model_serializers/model.rb
@@ -6,10 +6,11 @@ module ActiveModelSerializers
     include ActiveModel::Model
     include ActiveModel::Serializers::JSON
 
-    attr_reader :attributes
+    attr_reader :attributes, :errors
 
     def initialize(attributes = {})
       @attributes = attributes
+      @errors = ActiveModel::Errors.new(self)
       super
     end
 
@@ -35,5 +36,14 @@ module ActiveModelSerializers
         attributes[key]
       end
     end
+
+    # The following methods are needed to be minimally implemented for ActiveModel::Errors
+    def self.human_attribute_name(attr, _options = {})
+      attr
+    end
+
+    def self.lookup_ancestors
+      [self]
+    end
   end
 end
diff --git a/test/action_controller/json_api/errors_test.rb b/test/action_controller/json_api/errors_test.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d6766101
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/action_controller/json_api/errors_test.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+require 'test_helper'
+
+module ActionController
+  module Serialization
+    class JsonApi
+      class ErrorsTest < ActionController::TestCase
+        def test_active_model_with_multiple_errors
+          get :render_resource_with_errors
+
+          expected_errors_object =
+            { 'errors'.freeze =>
+              [
+                { :source => { :pointer => '/data/attributes/name' }, :detail => 'cannot be nil' },
+                { :source => { :pointer => '/data/attributes/name' }, :detail => 'must be longer' },
+                { :source => { :pointer => '/data/attributes/id' }, :detail => 'must be a uuid' }
+              ]
+          }.to_json
+          assert_equal json_reponse_body.to_json, expected_errors_object
+        end
+
+        def json_reponse_body
+          JSON.load(@response.body)
+        end
+
+        class ErrorsTestController < ActionController::Base
+          def render_resource_with_errors
+            resource = Profile.new(name: 'Name 1',
+                                   description: 'Description 1',
+                                   comments: 'Comments 1')
+            resource.errors.add(:name, 'cannot be nil')
+            resource.errors.add(:name, 'must be longer')
+            resource.errors.add(:id, 'must be a uuid')
+            render json: resource, adapter: :json_api
+          end
+        end
+
+        tests ErrorsTestController
+      end
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/test/active_model_serializers/adapter_for_test.rb b/test/active_model_serializers/adapter_for_test.rb
index 8dfbc9f3..4fe870be 100644
--- a/test/active_model_serializers/adapter_for_test.rb
+++ b/test/active_model_serializers/adapter_for_test.rb
@@ -102,7 +102,8 @@ module ActiveModelSerializers
         'null'.freeze              => ActiveModelSerializers::Adapter::Null,
         'json'.freeze              => ActiveModelSerializers::Adapter::Json,
         'attributes'.freeze => ActiveModelSerializers::Adapter::Attributes,
-        'json_api'.freeze => ActiveModelSerializers::Adapter::JsonApi
+        'json_api'.freeze => ActiveModelSerializers::Adapter::JsonApi,
+        'json_api/error'.freeze => ActiveModelSerializers::Adapter::JsonApi::Error
       }
       actual = ActiveModelSerializers::Adapter.adapter_map
       assert_equal actual, expected_adapter_map
@@ -113,6 +114,7 @@ module ActiveModelSerializers
         'attributes'.freeze,
         'json'.freeze,
         'json_api'.freeze,
+        'json_api/error'.freeze,
         'null'.freeze
       ]
     end
diff --git a/test/active_model_serializers/json_pointer_test.rb b/test/active_model_serializers/json_pointer_test.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..64acc7eb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/active_model_serializers/json_pointer_test.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+require 'test_helper'
+
+class ActiveModelSerializers::JsonPointerTest < ActiveSupport::TestCase
+  def test_attribute_pointer
+    attribute_name = 'title'
+    pointer = ActiveModelSerializers::JsonPointer.new(:attribute, attribute_name)
+    assert_equal '/data/attributes/title', pointer
+  end
+
+  def test_primary_data_pointer
+    pointer = ActiveModelSerializers::JsonPointer.new(:primary_data)
+    assert_equal '/data', pointer
+  end
+
+  def test_unkown_data_pointer
+    assert_raises(TypeError) do
+      ActiveModelSerializers::JsonPointer.new(:unknown)
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/test/adapter/json_api/errors_test.rb b/test/adapter/json_api/errors_test.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..1348a457
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/adapter/json_api/errors_test.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+require 'test_helper'
+
+module ActiveModelSerializers
+  module Adapter
+    class JsonApi < Base
+      class ErrorsTest < Minitest::Test
+        include ActiveModel::Serializer::Lint::Tests
+
+        def setup
+          @resource = ModelWithErrors.new
+        end
+
+        def test_active_model_with_error
+          options = {
+              serializer: ActiveModel::Serializer::ErrorSerializer,
+              adapter: :'json_api/error'
+          }
+
+          @resource.errors.add(:name, 'cannot be nil')
+
+          serializable_resource = ActiveModel::SerializableResource.new(@resource, options)
+          assert_equal serializable_resource.serializer_instance.attributes, {}
+          assert_equal serializable_resource.serializer_instance.object, @resource
+
+          expected_errors_object =
+            { 'errors'.freeze =>
+              [
+                {
+                  source: { pointer: '/data/attributes/name' },
+                  detail: 'cannot be nil'
+                }
+              ]
+          }
+          assert_equal serializable_resource.as_json, expected_errors_object
+        end
+
+        def test_active_model_with_multiple_errors
+          options = {
+              serializer: ActiveModel::Serializer::ErrorSerializer,
+              adapter: :'json_api/error'
+          }
+
+          @resource.errors.add(:name, 'cannot be nil')
+          @resource.errors.add(:name, 'must be longer')
+          @resource.errors.add(:id, 'must be a uuid')
+
+          serializable_resource = ActiveModel::SerializableResource.new(@resource, options)
+          assert_equal serializable_resource.serializer_instance.attributes, {}
+          assert_equal serializable_resource.serializer_instance.object, @resource
+
+          expected_errors_object =
+            { 'errors'.freeze =>
+              [
+                { :source => { :pointer => '/data/attributes/name' }, :detail => 'cannot be nil' },
+                { :source => { :pointer => '/data/attributes/name' }, :detail => 'must be longer' },
+                { :source => { :pointer => '/data/attributes/id' }, :detail => 'must be a uuid' }
+              ]
+          }
+          assert_equal serializable_resource.as_json, expected_errors_object
+        end
+      end
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/test/fixtures/poro.rb b/test/fixtures/poro.rb
index 445530e4..c40b1ca6 100644
--- a/test/fixtures/poro.rb
+++ b/test/fixtures/poro.rb
@@ -27,6 +27,17 @@ class Model < ActiveModelSerializers::Model
   end
 end
 
+# see
+# https://github.com/rails/rails/blob/4-2-stable/activemodel/lib/active_model/errors.rb
+# The below allows you to do:
+#
+#   model = ModelWithErrors.new
+#   model.validate!            # => ["cannot be nil"]
+#   model.errors.full_messages # => ["name cannot be nil"]
+class ModelWithErrors < ::ActiveModelSerializers::Model
+  attr_accessor :name
+end
+
 class Profile < Model
 end
 
diff --git a/test/lint_test.rb b/test/lint_test.rb
index 0ebdda64..9d0f2bc8 100644
--- a/test/lint_test.rb
+++ b/test/lint_test.rb
@@ -27,6 +27,15 @@ module ActiveModel
         def updated_at
         end
 
+        def errors
+        end
+
+        def self.human_attribute_name(attr, options = {})
+        end
+
+        def self.lookup_ancestors
+        end
+
         def self.model_name
           @_model_name ||= ActiveModel::Name.new(self)
         end
diff --git a/test/serializable_resource_test.rb b/test/serializable_resource_test.rb
index 69879504..dcee0d80 100644
--- a/test/serializable_resource_test.rb
+++ b/test/serializable_resource_test.rb
@@ -31,5 +31,37 @@ module ActiveModel
     def test_use_adapter_with_adapter_option_as_false
       refute ActiveModel::SerializableResource.new(@resource, { adapter: false }).use_adapter?
     end
+
+    class SerializableResourceErrorsTest < Minitest::Test
+      def test_serializable_resource_with_errors
+        options = nil
+        resource = ModelWithErrors.new
+        resource.errors.add(:name, 'must be awesome')
+        serializable_resource = ActiveModel::SerializableResource.new(resource)
+        expected_response_document =
+          { 'errors'.freeze =>
+            [
+              { :source => { :pointer => '/data/attributes/name' }, :detail => 'must be awesome' }
+            ]
+        }
+        assert_equal serializable_resource.as_json(options), expected_response_document
+      end
+
+      def test_serializable_resource_with_collection_containing_errors
+        options = nil
+        resources = []
+        resources << resource = ModelWithErrors.new
+        resource.errors.add(:title, 'must be amazing')
+        resources << ModelWithErrors.new
+        serializable_resource = ActiveModel::SerializableResource.new(resources)
+        expected_response_document =
+          { 'errors'.freeze =>
+            [
+              { :source => { :pointer => '/data/attributes/title' }, :detail => 'must be amazing' }
+            ]
+        }
+        assert_equal serializable_resource.as_json(options), expected_response_document
+      end
+    end
   end
 end