If you want to leave a gift or a portion of your estate to someone under the age of 18, keep the following points in mind.

If the child is under the age of 18, they are considered a minor in law and, as such, are not considered to have the necessary capacity to accept a gift or inheritance until they reach the age of 18.

As a result, the funds or assets must be held in trust for them and managed by the trustees named in your Will.

This is why, when dealing with minor beneficiaries, it is always advisable to appoint two trustees whom you consider reliable and trustworthy, and you may wish to appoint them as the child’s guardians as well, as they will likely understand the child’s needs and how best they can be met.

The Trustee can invest the minor’s share of the estate for their benefit or until they attain the age of majority (18) if the Will is written in such a way as to give them this authority. Throughout the child’s development, financial aid might be provided for things like tuition, extracurricular activities, and vacations.

Trustees have a crucial role, therefore it’s crucial to appoint somebody you know and trust.

You should plan ahead for the minor beneficiary’s future offspring and grandkids by including provisions for them in your Will. Avoid restricting your donation to certain individuals.

Stepchildren do not have an automatic right to inherit from your estate, thus it is important to make explicit provisions for them in your Will.

As a last point, the law requires that you name at least two trustees if your will establishes a trust for minor beneficiaries.

Trustee provisions under the STEP Standard give trustees broad authority to provide for and care for minor beneficiaries.

To ensure that your children are cared for and safeguarded after your death, we have included the STEP Standard provisions in our Wills.