A trustee manages the financial legacy you leave behind for your minor child. The most important characteristic is that they manage finances well. They do not need specialized knowledge as they can seek assistance from financial professionals should it be needed.

Consider whether your trustee will agree with the way you have structured your child’s inheritance (e.g., giving your child a portion of their inheritance at different ages). If they do not agree, it may be difficult for them to enforce your plan. If you give your trustee discretion in distributing inheritances rather than setting forth ages for distributions, you should ensure that your trustee will use their discretion in alignment with your intent. In short, you want to choose a trustee to manage your child’s inheritance who will act in your minor child’s best interest within the limits you have set forth in your estate planning documents.