Hi, I think there is another error in the Validator javadoc. Probably a cut&paste error * @throws IllegalArgumentException if object is null, if propertyName null, empty * or not a valid object property * or if null is passed to the varargs groups * @throws ValidationException if a non recoverable error happens * during the validation process */ <T> Set<ConstraintViolation<T>> validateValue(Class<T> beanType, String propertyName, Object value, Class<?>... groups); IllegalArgumentException if object is null seems to be wrong. Probably should be "if beanType is null". null as value seems to be a valid case. --Hardy