Can You Name a Minor as Executor, Trustee, or Power of Attorney?

Can You Name a Minor as Executor, Trustee, or Power of Attorney?

From Complete Estate Planning by Nick Rosenbauer

April 16, 2026 · 14 min · Episode 178

About this episode

Nick discusses the complexities and legal implications of naming minors as executors, trustees, or powers of attorney in estate planning.

📞 📅 Schedule Your No-Cost Consultation: https://cincinnatiestateplan.com/contact/ 🎓 Join Us for Our Next Workshop:https://cincinnatiestateplan.com/workshops/ It sounds like smart planning… naming your child or grandchild as your executor, trustee, or power of attorney now so you don’t have to update your documents later. But when that person is still under 18, things aren’t as simple as they seem. Today, Nick explains that while the idea comes from a good place, it can create real legal and practical problems when those roles are actually needed. He also covers smarter ways to structure your plan, so it works when it actually matters, not just on paper. Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode: ⚖️ Legal Reality: Minors cannot legally serve in fiduciary roles 🚫 Practical Limits: Naming them early doesn’t mean they can act when needed 🔮 Future Planning: Using minors as backup options requires careful structuring 🧩 Real-World Impact: Legal eligibility doesn’t always equal capability 📌 Better Approach: A well-structured plan avoids unnecessary risk Our website: https://cincinnatiestateplan.com/ Phone: 513-463-6789 Contact our team: info@CincinnatiEstatePlan.com Check out…

People in this episode

Host: Nick

Topics covered

  • estate planning
  • fiduciary roles
  • minors
  • legal issues
  • trusteeship

Keywords

  • executor
  • trustee
  • power of attorney
  • legal eligibility
  • future planning

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