Planning for your children’s inheritance takes some thought. Young people tend to like to keep things simple. Millennials don’t want their parents’ furniture or antiques. They want to be able to move easily, without a lot of headaches. Millennials are okay with jewelry, art, and cash. Likewise, with estate planning, millennials want a simple Will. This can be a wise choice if they have no children and are under the estate tax threshold. However, when they have children of their own, they should consider a trust.
Forbes’s recent article, “Why A Simple Will Won’t Cut It If You Have Young Children,” explains that without a trust, minor children inherit assets outright when they turn 18. That may be a problem if your children are apt to blow through their inheritance in a few years instead of using the money wisely.
However, an inheritance could last a lifetime if the beneficiary lives within her means, doesn’t tap into the principal, and works to help support her lifestyle and supplement her income. However, this isn’t always the case, and individuals with access to so much cash are often vulnerable to developing addictions.
A trustee can make certain that your children and young adults are cared for over the long-term. If you’re not alive to guide and direct your children, a trust can set the necessary limitations for their finances. The trustee can also help with your children’s financial literacy, so they’ll possess tools if and when they’re given additional responsibility for their inherited assets.
This isn’t just for minor children who are under 18 years old but also for young adults. The fact that a child is “legal” in the eyes of the law doesn’t mean she’s responsible enough to invest a million-dollar inheritance. A trust sets up an experienced advisor to manage inherited assets along the way.
One option is to set up the trust so they will become a co-trustee at a certain age. This lets them have a say and learn to make decisions about the management of the trust assets. Your trust can also give them access to distributions of principal slowly over time so they get used to managing large sums of money.
Simple solutions can work for some people, and there are definitely situations in which a simple Will is appropriate. But if you have minor children, consider doing additional planning so they don’t inherit money at 18.
Ask your estate planning attorney about the options available to set up a trust to work for your family.
Reference: Forbes (July 12, 2019) “Why A Simple Will Won’t Cut It If You Have Young Children”
