Q: I am a minor inheriting money from a deceased great-grandparent as stated in the will. Can I access it emancipated?
My great grandfather left me money in his Will. I a 16 years old. I would like to access it as soon as possible so I can begin college, however the law says I can´t touch it til 21, and my grandfather can choose how much I get and when I get it when I´m 18. My question is, however, if I get emancipated can my grandfather choose to give me money, despite not being an adult by age? He lives in Illinois, my Great Grandfather in Hawaii before he passed. I would desperately like to start college, and it is going to be ever so much more difficult without it.
Thanks!
A: An attorney would have to review the terms of the will; but do you mean trust? A court would probably require that the funds be held for you by a custodian or guardian until the age specified in the will or trust. It's the decedent's intent that must be determined. Is there a clause allowing for the use of the funds for your education? You may not get the funds even if you were an emancipated minor.
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.
