My kids have an inheritance they can’t access until they’re 30. Is there anything they can do to move it back?

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My mum left both my teenage kids 40k each.

The will stipulates it should remain in trust until they’re 30.

The executor of the will is her husband (not my dad) and I barely know him. He’s not told me anything about how it is invested and I had to get a copy of the will myself to see what was what because it all felt a bit awkward when he was in bits to talk about money. I’m not really in contact with him - there’s no problem, I’ve just only met him a few times and he lives hundreds of miles away.

Does he have the right to release it early? Would it be rude/wrong/unethical to ask him to overrule what my mum stipulated? Even a few thousand of it would help them so much with university, but asking a stranger for money feels wrong, even if it is theirs. I would love to know if it’s invested - with the time frame I’d hope it was all in stocks with very little bonds and cash, but it’s none of my business. Should they just leave it?

My friend inherited some money was meant to get it at 30 she asked for it in her early 20s to buy a house she was married with young children and it was released but her siblings had to wait, I think you probably need some legal advice

30 seems old but I can see why a person wouldn’t leave that sort of money to an 18 year old. I’ve seen what most of them do with student finance payments, they’d likely do the same with a vast inheritance.

Young adults are not all the same which is why such trusts often have some discretion and can allow money for named things such as education support. Precisely to add some protection whilst still letting them benefit from a trust.

Study for STEM at a good university without financial worries (and 20-30 hours per week of paid work) will help the student make the most of the academic opportunities. Ditto if it saves them needing a gap year before a four year degree course unless they actually want to take a gap year.

A good degree from a good named institute can give lifelong better earnings. The better known establishments also tend to get the best industrial year placements.

British Airways do or at least did an apprenticeship scheme.

An ex boyfriend of mine started an aeronautical engineering degree and left after the first term as he decided that uni wasn’t for him.

Applied for BA and got on their scheme and there was studying/qualifications involved but was much more practical which is what he wanted. Haven’t spoken to him for years but as far as I know he is still there and is now a manager in their engineering function

@Kennykenkencat no of course people don't have to go to university. But I hear so many stories of parents struggling to make up the shortfall as we are all told we should be making the loans up to the max loan amount. So if people can save it would help. I saved for my dc's. Only about £7k each but it's something. Ds1 has finished university and didn't touch the savings. He is now travelling and I expect will use some of it. Ds2 will need his as he wants to study abroad year 3 of university. Ds3 will have the same amount saved up. He's only 13. If he doesn't go to university then the money is there to do as he wishes. But putting money aside is a great idea where possible. I know some people can't.

Please don't turn your kids into factory fodder just because you won't pay for their university. If you have state school kids and you're in a deprived postcode, you should be looking at Oxbridge for such clever girls. Get yourself to the higher ed. forum.

"factory fodder" wtaf. Don't look down on factory jobs. It's possible to work your way up if that's what you're after. There are factory jobs and there are factory jobs.

...also OP, if you or kids' dad are not educated to degree level, even better chances of Oxbridge acceptance.

How many factories do you know? I happen to know factories very well indeed and it seems a shame to encourage these clever girls to forget higher education and apply for factory floor jobs because of some misplaced sense of social justice.

Hopefully the school is advising them re Higher education.

www.ucas.com/apprenticeships/what-you-need-know-about-apprenticeships/degree-apprenticeships-0
www.ratemyapprenticeship.co.uk/degree-apprenticeships
www.notgoingtouni.co.uk/opportunities/london-11/degree-apprenticeships
www.springpod.com/apprenticeships/degree

Not what you asked @lightgreen , but these sites are useful for exploring degree apprenticeships.
They can be a really good option, but they are very competitive. There is no central application process like UCAS so each one has to be applied for individually and they all have different deadlines, application processes and assessment procedures. But well worth looking into.

My cousins had a trust set up for them to access at 25
The solicitor told them they couldn’t access it any earlier
I don’t know if it’s a particular type of trust but the solicitor told them ( and I was in the meeting aswell) that that was their grandmothers wishes, stipulated in the will.

However
Beware
Another cousin inherited an entire estate from an aunt of ours. He was only 6/7 at the time. To inherit when he was 21
By the time he reached 21 the vast majority of it had gone in management fees!!!
So I’d check and see if yours has fees, what they are etc.

Thats if you’re allowed access of course