In Australia, a child who is considered a minor in whichever state they live in can inherit property, but isn’t allowed to manage it. The legal age of inheritance is 18, except in rare circumstances that a person between the ages of 16 and 18 is granted permission to marry.

If property is given to a minor via a will, then the executor must hold the property until the child turns 18, or older if specified in the will. This could be 21 or 25, or more, or be subject to certain circumstances such as getting married or having a child.

If a guardian is appointed for the children in the will (in the absence of the child’s other parent), but the guardian is not the same person as the executor and/or trustee, the trustee has control of the property, not the guardian.

Read more about who are legally considered children/parents

Read more about the legal side of getting married

Write your own story. Call Vanessa Ash and Associates today.