---
title: Can a child be my life insurance beneficiary | Coverfolk
url: https://coverfolk.com/answers/minor-beneficiary
updated: 2026-10-08
---

# Can a child be my life insurance beneficiary?

Updated October 8, 20263 sourcesCoverfolk team[Fact checked](/editorial-standards)

The short answer

You can name a child, but the company will not hand the money to a minor. An adult guardian, a custodian, or a trust has to manage it until the child is grown.

If you die while your child is still a minor, the child will not get the money directly. Someone else has to be in charge of it.

One way is a legal guardian. You can name one ahead of time, or someone can ask the court after you die. A court has to give that person the right to manage the money. This can be slow and cost money.

Another way is a trust. You set it up, and a trustee pays out the money the way you want. A trust has costs, and it must be valid when you die.

Some states let an adult manage the money as a custodian. One Alaska court form, for example, lets a custodian manage a child's insurance money until age 18.

If you name no one to manage the money, a court may need to step in. That can delay the payout for your child.

* Set up a trust for the child
* Name an adult custodian if your state allows it
* Name a guardian ahead of time
* Talk to a lawyer about your state's rules
* Review your choice when your child turns 18

## More questions

### What if I already named my child?

The company may say it cannot pay until a guardian or custodian is in place. Fix it now by naming a trust or custodian.

### When does the child get the money?

It depends on how you set it up. A trust pays on the terms you choose. A custodian in Alaska, for example, manages it until 18.

## Sources

1. [NerdWallet: How to Choose Life Insurance Beneficiaries](https://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/insurance/name-life-insurance-custodian-child/)
2. [Alaska Court System: Petition to Receive Funds on Behalf of a Minor (PG 662)](https://public.courts.alaska.gov/web/forms/docs/pg-662.pdf)
3. [Ethos (life insurer): Naming a Minor as a Life Insurance Beneficiary](https://ethos.com/life-insurance/naming-minor-as-beneficiary)