What You Need to Know About Using Minors as Primary Beneficiaries

Estate planning issues that have to do with children can be extremely complex. Minor children are usually only able to own a small amount of property directly in their own names.

This is why many parents choose to use tools, such as a trust, to pass on property to their children through the management of a trustee. The amount that minor children can accept outright in their own name varies from one state to another, so it’s important to discuss with your individual estate planning attorney what to expect.

Any property that belongs to a minor beyond that amount has to be legally supervised and controlled by an adult. If you are considering leaving behind a substantial gift to a minor, you should select an adult to be responsible for it.

You have two major options when preparing to pass on property beyond the allowable amount. These include:

• Leaving the gift to the child and naming an adult able to be responsible for supervising it. The adult can be one of the parents of the child but does not have to be directly.

• Leave the gift to the other parent who is eligible to use it for the child’s benefit. If the parents can cooperate and get along with another and can trust that any money will be managed well, this is usually the simplest way to address the matter.

For more helpful comprehensive estate planning issues having to do with children, schedule a consultation with a lawyer today.