Legal Rights of Children

Although not yet adults, minors have their own legal rights. Laws have been enacted to protect children from abuse and neglect, to give a child access to an education and to give them the right to receive certain federal and state benefits.

If my child inherits money from his grandparents, does it really belong to me?

No. The money belongs to your child; however, you have some control over its use and management as long as it goes to the child's needs rather than your own. For instance, you are certainly entitled to prevent the child from giving it to his friends, but he is probably within his rights to use the inheritance to purchase a vehicle.

SIDEBAR: Your child's earnings may belong to you under the law.