有孩子的家庭更需要遗产规划 Why Parents Need Estate Planning More Than Ever

在我们的人生不同阶段，遗产规划（Estate Planning）都有着不同的意义。我们前两期讲到：

• 单身时，为什么依然需要一份财富传承规划；

• 没有孩子的夫妻，为何也应提早规划。

那么今天，让我们来谈谈——当你已经结婚并且有了孩子，为什么遗产规划尤其重要。

Every stage of life brings new responsibilities — and estate planning evolves with them. In our previous articles, we discussed why single individuals and childless couples need an estate plan. Today, we’ll focus on why families with young children have even more at stake when it comes to protecting their legacy.

【问题解析 Problem Analysis】

很多父母认为：“我的财产就给配偶或孩子就好了。”听起来很自然，但很多人不知道一个关键事实——未成年人（18岁以下）在法律上不能直接继承财产。

在纽约州，如果父母没有留下任何文件：

1. 孩子将依法继承一半的遗产；另一半给配偶。

2. 孩子那一半不会由配偶代管，而是由法院指定监护人。

3. 监护人需要与法院共同开设账户，并在孩子满18岁时一次性将财产交付。

这意味着：

• 法院程序冗长、律师费用高昂；

• 父母对财产用途失去控制；

• 孩子18岁时可能突然继承大笔资金，缺乏财务成熟度。

Many parents assume, “I’ll just leave everything to my spouse or kids.”But legally, minors cannot inherit directly.

In New York, if no plan exists:

1. Your children will automatically receive half your estate, your spouse the other half;

2. The child’s portion is managed by a court-appointed guardian;

3. At age 18, the funds are released in full — no matter how large the amount.

This creates several problems:

• Costly court procedures and legal fees;

• Loss of control over how funds are used;

• A sudden inheritance at 18 — which may do more harm than good.

【解决方案 Solution】

解决方法其实很清楚：为孩子设立信托（Trust）或遗嘱附带信托条款（Will with Testamentary Trust）。

这是一份“保底式”的规划文件：

1. 您可以在遗嘱中规定：如果我去世时孩子未满18岁、25岁或30岁——由我信任的受托人（Trustee）代为管理遗产。

2. 受托人可根据需要为孩子支付教育、生活等开支，无需法院批准。

3. 等孩子成熟后（例如25岁），信托可自动解散，资产再分配给孩子。

通过这种安排：

• 家庭可避免法院监护程序；

• 孩子能获得稳定、持续的财务支持；

• 父母可灵活决定资产何时及如何交付。

The solution is simple yet powerful — create a trust or include a testamentary trust in your will.

This allows you to:

• Name a trusted person (Trustee) to manage funds for your child;

• Provide ongoing support for education or living expenses without court interference;

• Release the inheritance gradually — e.g., at age 25 or 30, when your child is more financially mature.

This approach avoids guardianship costs, ensures responsible asset management, and protects your child’s long-term well-being.

【风险提醒 Risk Reminder】

如果您没有规划：

• 法院程序会增加开销与不确定性；

• 孩子可能在法律成年后立即继承巨额资产；

• 家庭隐私也可能在法庭程序中被公开。

Without proper planning:

• Court intervention leads to high costs and long delays;

• An 18-year-old may receive a sudden windfall with no safeguards;

• Family privacy can be compromised through public probate records.

【律所小贴士 From The Shi Law Group】

对于有未成年子女的家庭来说，一份带信托条款的遗嘱，是最低限度的保护措施。它不一定复杂，也不一定昂贵，但可以为孩子带来稳妥与尊严的保障。

At The Shi Law Group, we often tell clients: “If you have young children, your will is not complete without a trust clause.” not just about distributing assets — it’s about protecting your child’s future, thoughtfully and responsibly.

【联系我们 Contact Us】

熙承律师事务所（The Shi Law Group, PLLC）专注于家庭财富传承、遗产规划、信托、遗嘱、婚前协议与跨境资产规划等。我们为纽约州和新泽西州的华人家庭提供专业、细致且富有关怀的法律服务。若您在结婚、离婚或同居安排上有疑问，欢迎随时联系我们进行咨询与规划。

The Shi Law Group, PLLC focuses on family wealth transfer, estate planning, trusts, wills, prenuptial agreements, and cross-border asset planning. We provide professional, attentive, and compassionate legal services to Chinese families in New York and New Jersey. If you have questions about marriage, divorce, or cohabitation planning, please contact us for consultation.

📧 邮箱 Email: info@mshilaw.com

📞 电话 Phone: +1 (917) 720-6943

🏢 地址 Address: 500 Old Country Rd, Suite 302, Garden City, NY 11530

如需预约咨询，请通过电话、电子邮件或在我们网站上提交预约请求。我们将安排有相关经验的律师与您沟通。

To schedule a consultation, contact us by phone, email, or book through our website. We will arrange for an experienced attorney to speak with you.