Individual
One person — property, retirement accounts, or minor children to plan for.
Typically Includes
- Trust for minor children
- Revocable living trust
- Will, POA & healthcare directive
- Beneficiary alignment on every account
Trust for Minor ChildrenGive Them What They Need, Not a Lump Sum at 18.
A trust for minor children controls how and when they receive an inheritance — spread out over time, or released for specific needs, instead of handed over all at once the day they turn eighteen.
Deborah Smiley is a Missouri estate attorney and a CFP® — a Certified Financial Planner — so yours is structured around your child's actual needs, not a generic form.
Free 30-minute consultationNo obligation
30 Years
Practicing law
11 Years
In wealth management, alongside her law practice
CFP®
Certified Financial Planner
AEP®
Accredited Estate Planner
What it does
What a Trust for Minor Children Actually Does
Controls the pace and terms of an inheritance, instead of handing over everything the moment a child turns eighteen.
Pay out at specific ages — twenty-five, thirty, thirty-five — instead of all at once at eighteen.
Someone you trust manages the funds — not a court-appointed conservator.
Education, health care, and general support can be released before the final distribution age.
Set different shares or terms for each child, based on their needs and your wishes.
While assets stay in trust, they're generally harder for a child's creditors or future spouse to reach.
Some parents tie distributions to milestones like finishing a degree, though this isn't required.
Deborah Smiley is a Missouri estate attorney and a CFP® — a Certified Financial Planner — so yours is structured around your child's actual needs, not a generic form.
What it doesn't do
What a Trust for Minor Children Doesn't Do
Said plainly, so you know what else to plan for.
A trust for minor children addresses inheritance. A will still names guardians and directs everything else.
Learn about Wills →If it's created through your will, it still goes through probate first. Built into a living trust instead, it can skip probate entirely.
Learn about Living Trusts →It needs a named, willing trustee to actually administer distributions over the years. Choosing the right person matters as much as the terms.
Not sure how this applies to your situation?
Call 636-214-0546What we watch for
Common Mistakes We Watch For
Most trusts for minor children fall short of what a parent actually intended. Here's what we check for, every time.
One child may need funds sooner — college, a medical need — another later. We tailor terms to each child, not a one-size template.
If your first choice can't serve, your family shouldn't be left guessing. We build in a backup, every time.
Without specific instructions, most children receive everything at once at eighteen — before many are ready. We make sure the trust says otherwise, if that's your intent.
Pricing
How Your Trust for Minor Children Is Priced
A trust for minor children is rarely priced on its own. Most plans are a flat fee, set before you commit to anything, that covers it alongside whatever else you need. What changes the number is complexity — whether you're planning alone, as a couple, or across multiple assets and entities.
Couple
Two people — one coordinated plan instead of two that may conflict.
Typically Includes
- Trusts for minor children, coordinated
- Joint or mirror living trusts
- Wills for each spouse, coordinated
- A clear roadmap for the first death
Complex or High Net Worth
Multiple assets, entities, or a business — coordinated with your CPA and other advisors.
Typically Includes
- Staged trusts for multiple children
- Irrevocable & tax-minimizing trusts
- Business succession & family entities
- Coordinated with your CPA & advisors
Get an exact number for your situation — the first call is free.
Call 636-214-0546The process
How Your Trust for Minor Children Gets Built
Current ages, education plans, and what age you'd trust them with full access — in one real meeting.
1
We map your children's needs and ages
Current ages, education plans, and what age you'd trust them with full access — in one real meeting.
2
We draft it
Distribution ages and terms written to match each child, not a generic template.
3
We fund it
Assets and beneficiary designations aligned so the trust actually controls what you intend.
4
We stay
Reviewed every year, so it still matches your children's ages and needs.
Your attorney
Why Families Trust Deborah With This
Deborah Smiley
JD · CFP® · AEP®Deborah has practiced law in Missouri for 30 years. For 11 of those years, she also worked in wealth management — a combination that matters here too, since deciding how much a child should receive, and when, is as much a financial planning question as a legal one.
She's a CFP® (Certified Financial Planner) and an AEP® (Accredited Estate Planner) — credentials very few estate attorneys hold together.
30 yrsPracticing law in Missouri
11 yrsIn wealth management, alongside her law practice
CFP®Certified Financial Planner
AEP®Accredited Estate Planner
Past ChairProbate & Trust Committee, Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis
Ready to talk through your plan?
Call 636-214-0546Client Reviews
Deb has been a great partner over the years and takes great care of my referrals/clients for their planning needs.
Harvey
I met Deb and I thought I had all my estate and business planning affairs in order; then she asked me questions that made me realize I had a lot more planning to do.
Jamie
Deb and I have been collaborative partners for almost 20 years. She has taken great care of my clients.
Paul
I have known Deb for years and she has given me peace of mind with my estate planning needs.
Carol
Deb has been instrumental in helping my family with their estate planning needs. We are grateful for her.
David
Deb has been very helpful with my and my family's estate and business planning.
Kelly
When we first moved here, I didn't realize how many legal revisions and details were needed. I heard Deb speak at a luncheon and was so impressed with her legal knowledge. Deb has been very helpful with my family's estate planning. She gave us peace of mind.
Jenny
Deb, thank you so much, we really appreciate all of your work and concern.
Bob and Myra
Deb was very responsive and helpful.
Chris
Deb was so helpful and even came to our house.
Missy and Ray
Deb was very responsive, helpful and intelligent.
John and Julie
Deb has been a great partner over the years and takes great care of my referrals/clients for their planning needs.
Harvey
I met Deb and I thought I had all my estate and business planning affairs in order; then she asked me questions that made me realize I had a lot more planning to do.
Jamie
Deb and I have been collaborative partners for almost 20 years. She has taken great care of my clients.
Paul
I have known Deb for years and she has given me peace of mind with my estate planning needs.
Carol
Deb has been instrumental in helping my family with their estate planning needs. We are grateful for her.
David
Deb has been very helpful with my and my family's estate and business planning.
Kelly
When we first moved here, I didn't realize how many legal revisions and details were needed. I heard Deb speak at a luncheon and was so impressed with her legal knowledge. Deb has been very helpful with my family's estate planning. She gave us peace of mind.
Jenny
Deb, thank you so much, we really appreciate all of your work and concern.
Bob and Myra
Deb was very responsive and helpful.
Chris
Deb was so helpful and even came to our house.
Missy and Ray
Deb was very responsive, helpful and intelligent.
John and Julie
Questions
Questions
A trust that controls how and when a child receives an inheritance, instead of receiving everything at once when they turn eighteen.
A court typically appoints a conservator to manage it until the child turns eighteen, then they receive the full amount at once, regardless of readiness.
There's no required age — many parents choose staggered ages like twenty-five, thirty, and thirty-five, so a child doesn't receive everything at once.
Yes. You can set different ages, amounts, or conditions for each child, based on their needs.
Someone you trust to manage money responsibly and follow your wishes — a family member, friend, or professional trustee.
Yes, if the trust allows discretionary distributions for health, education, or support before the final distribution age.
Only if it's created through a living trust. If it's created through your will, it still goes through probate first.
It's rarely priced on its own — most plans bundle it with a will and other documents into one flat fee. Call for a free 30-minute consultation and you'll know your exact fee before you commit to anything.
Ready to Protect Your Children's Inheritance?
Call to schedule your free 30-minute consultation with Deborah — no obligation.
Call 636-214-0546Free 30-minute consultationNo obligationReal person answers