diff --git a/lib/checks/.eslintrc b/lib/checks/.eslintrc
index e22052a9b0..357031c0a9 100644
--- a/lib/checks/.eslintrc
+++ b/lib/checks/.eslintrc
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@
     "strict": 0,
     "max-params": [
       2,
-      5
+      6
     ],
     "max-depth": [
       2,
diff --git a/lib/checks/aria/required-children.js b/lib/checks/aria/required-children.js
index 3341fd6ece..a566b215e4 100644
--- a/lib/checks/aria/required-children.js
+++ b/lib/checks/aria/required-children.js
@@ -1,58 +1,87 @@
-const requiredOwned = axe.commons.aria.requiredOwned;
-const implicitNodes = axe.commons.aria.implicitNodes;
-const matchesSelector = axe.utils.matchesSelector;
-const idrefs = axe.commons.dom.idrefs;
-const hasContentVirtual = axe.commons.dom.hasContentVirtual;
+const { aria, dom } = axe.commons;
+const { requiredOwned, implicitNodes, getRole } = aria;
+const { hasContentVirtual, idrefs } = dom;
+const { matchesSelector, querySelectorAll, getNodeFromTree } = axe.utils;
+
 const reviewEmpty =
 	options && Array.isArray(options.reviewEmpty) ? options.reviewEmpty : [];
+const role = node.getAttribute('role');
+const required = requiredOwned(role);
+if (!required) {
+	return true;
+}
 
-function owns(node, virtualTree, role, ariaOwned) {
-	if (node === null) {
-		return false;
-	}
-	const implicit = implicitNodes(role);
-	let selector = ['[role="' + role + '"]'];
-
-	if (implicit) {
-		selector = selector.concat(
-			implicit.map(implicitSelector => implicitSelector + ':not([role])')
-		);
-	}
+let all = false;
+let childRoles = required.one;
+if (!childRoles) {
+	all = true;
+	childRoles = required.all;
+}
 
-	selector = selector.join(',');
-	return ariaOwned
-		? matchesSelector(node, selector) ||
-				!!axe.utils.querySelectorAll(virtualTree, selector)[0]
-		: !!axe.utils.querySelectorAll(virtualTree, selector)[0];
+const ownedElements = idrefs(node, 'aria-owns');
+const descendantRole = getDescendantRole(node, ownedElements);
+const missing = missingRequiredChildren(
+	node,
+	childRoles,
+	all,
+	role,
+	ownedElements,
+	descendantRole
+);
+if (!missing) {
+	return true;
 }
 
-function ariaOwns(nodes, role) {
-	for (let index = 0; index < nodes.length; index++) {
-		const node = nodes[index];
-		if (node === null) {
-			continue;
-		}
-		const virtualTree = axe.utils.getNodeFromTree(node);
-		if (owns(node, virtualTree, role, true)) {
-			return true;
-		}
-	}
-	return false;
+this.data(missing);
+
+// Only review empty nodes when a node is both empty and does not have an aria-owns relationship
+if (
+	reviewEmpty.includes(role) &&
+	!hasContentVirtual(virtualNode, false, true) &&
+	!descendantRole.length &&
+	idrefs(node, 'aria-owns').length === 0
+) {
+	return undefined;
 }
 
-function missingRequiredChildren(node, childRoles, all, role) {
-	const missing = [],
-		ownedElements = idrefs(node, 'aria-owns');
+return false;
+
+/**
+ * Get missing children roles
+ * @param {HTMLElement} node node
+ * @param {String[]} childRoles expected children roles
+ * @param {Boolean} all should all child roles be present?
+ * @param {String} role role of given node
+ */
+function missingRequiredChildren(
+	node,
+	childRoles,
+	all,
+	role,
+	ownedEls,
+	descRole
+) {
+	let missing = [];
 
 	for (let index = 0; index < childRoles.length; index++) {
 		const childRole = childRoles[index];
-		if (
-			owns(node, virtualNode, childRole) ||
-			ariaOwns(ownedElements, childRole)
-		) {
+		const ownsRole = owns(node, virtualNode, childRole);
+		const ariaOwnsRole = ariaOwns(ownedEls, childRole);
+		if (ownsRole || ariaOwnsRole) {
 			if (!all) {
 				return null;
 			}
+
+			/**
+			 * Verify if descendants contain one of the requested child roles & that a requested child role is not nested within an overriding role
+			 * Only handle when role is not `combobox`, given there is an exception/ different path for `combobox`
+			 * Eg:
+			 * `<div role="list"><div role="tabpanel"><div role="listitem">List item 1</div></div></div>`
+			 * should fail because `listitem` role not under `list` but has `tabpanel` between them, so although `listitem` is owned by `list` this is a failure.
+			 */
+			if (role !== 'combobox' && !descRole.includes(childRole)) {
+				missing.push(childRole);
+			}
 		} else {
 			if (all) {
 				missing.push(childRole);
@@ -70,7 +99,7 @@ function missingRequiredChildren(node, childRoles, all, role) {
 				node.nodeName.toUpperCase() === 'INPUT' &&
 				textTypeInputs.includes(node.type)) ||
 			owns(node, virtualNode, 'searchbox') ||
-			ariaOwns(ownedElements, 'searchbox')
+			ariaOwns(ownedEls, 'searchbox')
 		) {
 			missing.splice(textboxIndex, 1);
 		}
@@ -106,49 +135,85 @@ function missingRequiredChildren(node, childRoles, all, role) {
 	return null;
 }
 
-function hasDecendantWithRole(node) {
-	return (
-		node.children &&
-		node.children.some(child => {
-			const role = axe.commons.aria.getRole(child);
-			return (
-				!['presentation', 'none', null].includes(role) ||
-				hasDecendantWithRole(child)
-			);
-		})
-	);
-}
-
-const role = node.getAttribute('role');
-const required = requiredOwned(role);
+/**
+ * Helper to check if a given node owns an element with a given role
+ * @param {HTMLElement} node node
+ * @param {Object} virtualTree virtual node
+ * @param {String} role role
+ * @param {Boolean} ariaOwned
+ * @returns {Boolean}
+ */
+function owns(node, virtualTree, role, ariaOwned) {
+	if (node === null) {
+		return false;
+	}
+	const implicit = implicitNodes(role);
+	let selector = ['[role="' + role + '"]'];
 
-if (!required) {
-	return true;
-}
+	if (implicit) {
+		selector = selector.concat(
+			implicit.map(implicitSelector => implicitSelector + ':not([role])')
+		);
+	}
 
-let all = false;
-let childRoles = required.one;
-if (!childRoles) {
-	all = true;
-	childRoles = required.all;
+	selector = selector.join(',');
+	return ariaOwned
+		? matchesSelector(node, selector) ||
+				!!querySelectorAll(virtualTree, selector)[0]
+		: !!querySelectorAll(virtualTree, selector)[0];
 }
 
-const missing = missingRequiredChildren(node, childRoles, all, role);
+/**
+ * Helper to check if a given node is `aria-owns` an element with a given role
+ * @param {HTMLElement[]} nodes nodes
+ * @param {String} role role
+ * @returns {Boolean}
+ */
+function ariaOwns(nodes, role) {
+	for (let index = 0; index < nodes.length; index++) {
+		const node = nodes[index];
+		if (node === null) {
+			continue;
+		}
 
-if (!missing) {
-	return true;
+		const virtualTree = getNodeFromTree(node);
+		if (owns(node, virtualTree, role, true)) {
+			return true;
+		}
+	}
+	return false;
 }
 
-this.data(missing);
+/**
+ * Get role (that is not presentation or none) of descendant
+ * @param {HTMLElement} node node
+ * @returns {String[]}
+ */
+function getDescendantRole(node, ownedEls) {
+	const isOwns = ownedEls && ownedEls.length > 0;
+	const el = isOwns ? ownedEls[0] : node;
+
+	if (!el) {
+		return [];
+	}
 
-// Only review empty nodes when a node is both empty and does not have an aria-owns relationship
-if (
-	reviewEmpty.includes(role) &&
-	!hasContentVirtual(virtualNode, false, true) &&
-	!hasDecendantWithRole(virtualNode) &&
-	idrefs(node, 'aria-owns').length === 0
-) {
-	return undefined;
-} else {
-	return false;
+	const items = isOwns
+		? Array.from(el.children).reduce(
+				(out, child) => {
+					out.push(child);
+					return out;
+				},
+				[el]
+		  )
+		: Array.from(el.children);
+
+	return items.reduce((out, child) => {
+		const role = getRole(child);
+		if (['presentation', 'none', null].includes(role)) {
+			out = out.concat(getDescendantRole(child));
+		} else {
+			out.push(role);
+		}
+		return out;
+	}, []);
 }
diff --git a/test/checks/aria/required-children.js b/test/checks/aria/required-children.js
index a7132dd693..44460ed8a0 100644
--- a/test/checks/aria/required-children.js
+++ b/test/checks/aria/required-children.js
@@ -103,6 +103,15 @@ describe('aria-required-children', function() {
 		);
 	});
 
+	it('should pass all existing required children when all required', function() {
+		var params = checkSetup(
+			'<div id="target" role="menu"><li role="none"></li><li role="menuitem">Item 1</li><div role="menuitemradio">Item 2</div><div role="menuitemcheckbox">Item 3</div></div>'
+		);
+		assert.isTrue(
+			checks['aria-required-children'].evaluate.apply(checkContext, params)
+		);
+	});
+
 	it('should return undefined when element is empty and is in reviewEmpty options', function() {
 		var params = checkSetup('<div role="list" id="target"></div>', {
 			reviewEmpty: ['list']
@@ -246,6 +255,39 @@ describe('aria-required-children', function() {
 		assert.deepEqual(checkContext._data, ['listbox']);
 	});
 
+	it('should fail when list does not have required children listitem', function() {
+		var params = checkSetup(
+			'<div id="target" role="list"><span>Item 1</span></div>'
+		);
+		assert.isFalse(
+			checks['aria-required-children'].evaluate.apply(checkContext, params)
+		);
+
+		assert.deepEqual(checkContext._data, ['listitem']);
+	});
+
+	it('should fail when list has intermediate child with role that is not a required role', function() {
+		var params = checkSetup(
+			'<div id="target" role="list"><div role="tabpanel"><div role="listitem">List item 1</div></div></div>'
+		);
+		assert.isFalse(
+			checks['aria-required-children'].evaluate.apply(checkContext, params)
+		);
+
+		assert.deepEqual(checkContext._data, ['listitem']);
+	});
+
+	it('should fail when nested child with role row  does not have required child role cell', function() {
+		var params = checkSetup(
+			'<div  role="grid"><div role="row" id="target"><span>Item 1</span></div></div>'
+		);
+		assert.isFalse(
+			checks['aria-required-children'].evaluate.apply(checkContext, params)
+		);
+
+		assert.includeMembers(checkContext._data, ['cell']);
+	});
+
 	it('should pass one indirectly aria-owned child when one required', function() {
 		var params = checkSetup(
 			'<div role="grid" id="target" aria-owns="r"></div><div id="r"><div role="row">Nothing here.</div></div>'
@@ -273,6 +315,33 @@ describe('aria-required-children', function() {
 		);
 	});
 
+	it('should fail one existing aria-owned child when an intermediate child with role that is not a required role exists', function() {
+		var params = checkSetup(
+			'<div id="target" role="list" aria-owns="list"></div><div id="list"><div role="tabpanel"><div role="listitem"></div></div></div>'
+		);
+		assert.isFalse(
+			checks['aria-required-children'].evaluate.apply(checkContext, params)
+		);
+	});
+
+	it('should pass one existing required child when one required (has explicit role of tab)', function() {
+		var params = checkSetup(
+			'<ul id="target" role="tablist"><li role="tab">Tab 1</li><li role="tab">Tab 2</li></ul>'
+		);
+		assert.isTrue(
+			checks['aria-required-children'].evaluate.apply(checkContext, params)
+		);
+	});
+
+	it('should pass required child roles (grid contains row, which contains cell)', function() {
+		var params = checkSetup(
+			'<table id="target" role="grid"><tr role="row"><td role="cell">Item 1</td></tr></table>'
+		);
+		assert.isTrue(
+			checks['aria-required-children'].evaluate.apply(checkContext, params)
+		);
+	});
+
 	it('should pass one existing required child when one required', function() {
 		var params = checkSetup(
 			'<div role="grid" id="target"><p role="row">Nothing here.</p></div>'
diff --git a/test/integration/rules/aria-required-children/aria-required-children.html b/test/integration/rules/aria-required-children/aria-required-children.html
index e3e913eda5..25cca78769 100644
--- a/test/integration/rules/aria-required-children/aria-required-children.html
+++ b/test/integration/rules/aria-required-children/aria-required-children.html
@@ -1,14 +1,20 @@
-<div role="list" id="pass1"><div role="listitem" id="pass2">Item 1</div></div>
+<div role="list" id="pass1">
+	<div role="listitem" id="pass2">Item 1</div>
+</div>
 <div role="list" id="pass3" aria-owns="pass4"></div>
 <div role="listitem" id="pass4"></div>
-<div role="list" id="fail1"><div role="menuitem" id="pass5"></div></div>
+<div role="list" id="fail1">
+	<div role="menuitem" id="pass5"></div>
+</div>
 <div role="list" id="fail2" aria-owns="pass6"></div>
 <div role="menu" id="fail3"></div>
 <div role="menubar" id="fail4"></div>
 <div role="row" id="fail5"></div>
 <div role="menuitem" id="pass6"></div>
 <div role="list" id="pass7" aria-owns="parent"></div>
-<div id="parent"><div role="listitem" id="pass8"></div></div>
+<div id="parent">
+	<div role="listitem" id="pass8"></div>
+</div>
 <div role="grid" id="incomplete1"></div>
 <div role="list" id="incomplete2"></div>
 <div role="listbox" id="incomplete3"></div>
@@ -19,4 +25,25 @@
 <div role="rowgroup" id="incomplete8"></div>
 <div role="doc-bibliography" id="incomplete9"></div>
 <div role="doc-endnotes" id="incomplete10"></div>
-<div role="listbox" id="incomplete11"><div></div></div>
+<div role="listbox" id="incomplete11">
+	<div></div>
+</div>
+<div role="list" id="fail6">
+	<div role="tabpanel" id="pass9">
+		<div role="listitem" id="pass10">List item 1</div>
+	</div>
+</div>
+<div role="grid" id="pass11">
+	<div role="row" id="fail7">
+		<span>Item 1</span>
+	</div>
+</div>
+<div role="grid" id="pass12">
+	<div role="presentation" id="pass13">
+		<div role="row" id="pass14">
+			<div role="none" id="pass15">
+				<span role="cell" id="pass16">Item 1</span>
+			</div>
+		</div>
+	</div>
+</div>
diff --git a/test/integration/rules/aria-required-children/aria-required-children.json b/test/integration/rules/aria-required-children/aria-required-children.json
index 7030e1cbcb..31500091ff 100644
--- a/test/integration/rules/aria-required-children/aria-required-children.json
+++ b/test/integration/rules/aria-required-children/aria-required-children.json
@@ -1,7 +1,15 @@
 {
 	"description": "aria-required-children test",
 	"rule": "aria-required-children",
-	"violations": [["#fail1"], ["#fail2"], ["#fail3"], ["#fail4"], ["#fail5"]],
+	"violations": [
+		["#fail1"],
+		["#fail2"],
+		["#fail3"],
+		["#fail4"],
+		["#fail5"],
+		["#fail6"],
+		["#fail7"]
+	],
 	"passes": [
 		["#pass1"],
 		["#pass2"],
@@ -10,7 +18,15 @@
 		["#pass5"],
 		["#pass6"],
 		["#pass7"],
-		["#pass8"]
+		["#pass8"],
+		["#pass9"],
+		["#pass10"],
+		["#pass11"],
+		["#pass12"],
+		["#pass13"],
+		["#pass14"],
+		["#pass15"],
+		["#pass16"]
 	],
 	"incomplete": [
 		["#incomplete1"],