diff --git a/lib/active_model/serializable_resource.rb b/lib/active_model/serializable_resource.rb
index 56453dd98..1fce9d38f 100644
--- a/lib/active_model/serializable_resource.rb
+++ b/lib/active_model/serializable_resource.rb
@@ -9,6 +9,19 @@ def initialize(resource, options = {})
       @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
 
     delegate :serializable_hash, :as_json, :to_json, to: :adapter
diff --git a/lib/active_model/serializer.rb b/lib/active_model/serializer.rb
index 643167a77..e0382d6ce 100644
--- a/lib/active_model/serializer.rb
+++ b/lib/active_model/serializer.rb
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 require 'thread_safe'
 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/configuration'
@@ -27,11 +28,15 @@ class Serializer
       )
     /x
 
+    class_attribute :_attributes, instance_writer: false
+    self._attributes ||= []
+    class_attribute :_attributes_keys, instance_writer: false, instance_reader: false
+    self._attributes_keys ||= {}
+    class_attribute :_type, instance_writer: false
+    class_attribute :_fragmented, instance_writer: false
+
     class << self
-      attr_accessor :_attributes
-      attr_accessor :_attributes_keys
       attr_accessor :_cache
-      attr_accessor :_fragmented
       attr_accessor :_cache_key
       attr_accessor :_cache_only
       attr_accessor :_cache_except
@@ -40,8 +45,8 @@ class << self
     end
 
     def self.inherited(base)
-      base._attributes = _attributes.try(:dup) || []
-      base._attributes_keys = _attributes_keys.try(:dup) || {}
+      base._attributes = _attributes.dup
+      base._attributes_keys = _attributes_keys.dup
       base._cache_digest = digest_caller_file(caller.first)
       super
     end
@@ -122,7 +127,6 @@ def self.get_serializer_for(klass)
     end
 
     attr_accessor :object, :root, :scope
-    class_attribute :_type, instance_writer: false
 
     def initialize(object, options = {})
       self.object = object
@@ -143,13 +147,13 @@ def json_key
     end
 
     def attributes
-      attributes = self.class._attributes.dup
+      attributes = _attributes.dup
 
       attributes.each_with_object({}) do |name, hash|
-        unless self.class._fragmented
-          hash[name] = send(name)
+        if _fragmented
+          hash[name] = _fragmented.public_send(name)
         else
-          hash[name] = self.class._fragmented.public_send(name)
+          hash[name] = send(name)
         end
       end
     end
diff --git a/lib/active_model/serializer/adapter/json_api.rb b/lib/active_model/serializer/adapter/json_api.rb
index 2792af094..cdbd633d2 100644
--- a/lib/active_model/serializer/adapter/json_api.rb
+++ b/lib/active_model/serializer/adapter/json_api.rb
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ class JsonApi < Base
         extend ActiveSupport::Autoload
         autoload :PaginationLinks
         autoload :FragmentCache
+        require 'active_model/serializer/adapter/json_api/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/serializer/adapter/json_api/error.rb b/lib/active_model/serializer/adapter/json_api/error.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..2944a666d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/active_model/serializer/adapter/json_api/error.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+module ActiveModel
+  class Serializer
+    module Adapter
+      class JsonApi < Base
+        class Error < Base
+          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)
+            attribute_errors.map do |attribute_error|
+              {
+                source: { pointer: "data/attributes/#{attribute_name}" },
+                detail: attribute_error
+              }
+            end
+          end
+        end
+      end
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/lib/active_model/serializer/error_serializer.rb b/lib/active_model/serializer/error_serializer.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e4451afef
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/active_model/serializer/error_serializer.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+class ActiveModel::Serializer::ErrorSerializer < ActiveModel::Serializer
+end
diff --git a/test/adapter/json_api/errors_test.rb b/test/adapter/json_api/errors_test.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a1f33e618
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/adapter/json_api/errors_test.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,97 @@
+require 'test_helper'
+
+=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
+
+module ActiveModel
+  class Serializer
+    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
+end
diff --git a/test/fixtures/poro.rb b/test/fixtures/poro.rb
index bfb9c84a7..6e2d68fe7 100644
--- a/test/fixtures/poro.rb
+++ b/test/fixtures/poro.rb
@@ -53,6 +53,53 @@ def updated_at
   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
+  include ActiveModel::Serialization
+  def attributes
+    {
+      errors: errors,
+      name: name
+    }
+  end
+
+  def id
+    object_id
+  end
+
+  def cache_key
+    "#{self.class.name.downcase}/#{id}-#{Time.now.utc.strftime("%Y%m%d%H%M%S%9N")}"
+  end
+
+  # Required dependency for ActiveModel::Errors
+  extend ActiveModel::Naming
+  def initialize
+    @errors = ActiveModel::Errors.new(self)
+  end
+  attr_accessor :name
+  attr_reader :errors
+
+  # The following methods are needed to be minimally implemented
+
+  def read_attribute_for_validation(attr)
+    send(attr)
+  end
+
+  def self.human_attribute_name(attr, options = {})
+    attr
+  end
+
+  def self.lookup_ancestors
+    [self]
+  end
+end
+
 class Profile < Model
 end
 
diff --git a/test/serializable_resource_test.rb b/test/serializable_resource_test.rb
index 9f695a130..ee6be26b0 100644
--- a/test/serializable_resource_test.rb
+++ b/test/serializable_resource_test.rb
@@ -23,5 +23,37 @@ def test_serializable_resource_delegates_as_json_to_the_adapter
       options = nil
       assert_equal @adapter.as_json(options), @serializable_resource.as_json(options)
     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
diff --git a/test/serializers/adapter_for_test.rb b/test/serializers/adapter_for_test.rb
index ecb837770..c09753807 100644
--- a/test/serializers/adapter_for_test.rb
+++ b/test/serializers/adapter_for_test.rb
@@ -63,8 +63,10 @@ def test_adapter_map
         expected_adapter_map = {
           'null'.freeze              => ActiveModel::Serializer::Adapter::Null,
           'json'.freeze              => ActiveModel::Serializer::Adapter::Json,
-          'attributes'.freeze => ActiveModel::Serializer::Adapter::Attributes,
-          'json_api'.freeze => ActiveModel::Serializer::Adapter::JsonApi
+          'attributes'.freeze        => ActiveModel::Serializer::Adapter::Attributes,
+          'json_api'.freeze          => ActiveModel::Serializer::Adapter::JsonApi,
+          'json_api/error'.freeze    => ActiveModel::Serializer::Adapter::JsonApi::Error,
+          'null'.freeze              => ActiveModel::Serializer::Adapter::Null
         }
         actual = ActiveModel::Serializer::Adapter.adapter_map
         assert_equal actual, expected_adapter_map
@@ -75,6 +77,7 @@ def test_adapters
           'attributes'.freeze,
           'json'.freeze,
           'json_api'.freeze,
+          'json_api/error'.freeze,
           'null'.freeze
         ]
       end