Children's Legacy Protection Planning Attorneys in Cranston, Rhode Island
Make Sure Your Children Are Cared For, No Matter What
Name the guardians you choose and protect the money you leave behind, without court interference. As parents ourselves, we make this planning approachable and reassuring.
Family-owned & operated in Cranston, RI
- Family-Owned & Operated
- Two Generations of Attorneys
- Serving RI, MA, CT & NH
- Free 15-Minute Discovery Call
- White-Glove Service
- Fair, Honest Pricing
If something happened to you, who would raise your children, and who would manage the money you leave for them? At Senerchia & Senerchia, P.C., our Cranston attorneys help Rhode Island parents make sure their kids are cared for by the people they choose, in the way they choose, without court interference. Children’s legacy protection planning is a heartfelt extension of our estate planning practice, built specifically for parents of minor children.
Naming Guardians for Your Children
If you never legally name guardians, a Rhode Island court decides who raises your children, possibly someone you’d never have chosen, after a stressful proceeding. We help you put clear, legally valid guardian nominations in place, including protections for the immediate hours and days after an emergency.
- Long-term guardian nominations in your will
- Short-term / emergency guardian instructions so no gap leaves kids in limbo
- Guidance and instructions to help your chosen guardians succeed
Protecting the Money You Leave Behind
Leaving money to a minor outright can mean court supervision now and a lump sum handed to an 18-year-old later. A properly structured trust keeps assets protected and managed by someone you trust, released on terms you set.
- Trusts for minor children that avoid court-supervised guardianship of the estate
- Staggered distributions instead of a lump sum at age 18
- Protection of the inheritance from a child's future divorce or creditors, part of our asset protection approach
- Coordination of life insurance and retirement account beneficiaries so they flow into the trust
Planning for Children with Special Needs
For a child with a disability, an ordinary inheritance can unintentionally disqualify them from vital public benefits. A special needs trust lets you provide for them while preserving eligibility for benefits administered through the Social Security Administration and the state.
Keeping Your Plan Current as Your Family Grows
The right plan changes as your children grow, as you have more kids, and as your assets change. We build plans that are easy to update and revisit them with you over time, so your protection is never out of date when your family needs it most.
Why Work With Senerchia & Senerchia
Senerchia & Senerchia, P.C. is a family-owned Rhode Island law firm, and we treat your family like our own. We live here and we are your neighbors, so we understand Rhode Island families, Rhode Island courts, and the local realities our clients face. As parents ourselves, we understand what’s at stake, and we make this emotional planning approachable and even reassuring.
- Our family protecting your family, a personal, caring approach, not a stuffy law office
- White-glove service and communication, including availability beyond regular business hours
- Thorough, meticulous documentation done right the first time
- Fair, honest, transparent pricing with no surprises
- We go the extra mile: you work directly with our attorneys, not a call center
Meet our attorneys or book a free 15-minute discovery call to see how we can help protect what matters most to you.
Reviews From Our Clients
Our Family Protecting Your Family
Senerchia & Senerchia, P.C. is a family-owned Rhode Island law firm and title company, two generations of the Senerchia family practicing law and treating every client like one of our own. We’re not a stuffy, big-city firm. We live here. We’re your neighbors. And when you call, you speak directly with an attorney, not a call center.
It’s a simple idea: our family is here to protect yours, today and for generations to come. Book a free 15-minute discovery call or call 401-615-3880.
Areas We Serve: Cranston & Surrounding Rhode Island
Our office is located at 150 Burnside Street in Cranston, Rhode Island, with easy access off Interstate 95 and the Route 10 Connector. From Cranston we serve parents protecting their children throughout the greater Providence area and roughly a 25-mile radius around our office, including
- Providence, Warwick, West Warwick, Johnston, and North Providence
- East Greenwich, Coventry, Scituate, Foster, and Smithfield
- Pawtucket, Central Falls, Lincoln, Cumberland, and Woonsocket
- East Providence, Barrington, Bristol, Warren, and North Kingstown
We also welcome clients from just over the Massachusetts line, including Attleboro, North Attleboro, Seekonk, Rehoboth, Swansea, Fall River, New Bedford, and Fairhaven. For clients who cannot travel to Cranston, we offer remote meetings by Zoom or Microsoft Teams. Ready to talk? Schedule a consultation or contact our office.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens to my kids if my spouse and I both pass away without a plan?
A Rhode Island court would appoint a guardian, without your input, after a potentially stressful proceeding, and it might not be the person you’d choose. Naming guardians in your will prevents this and gives your family certainty.
Why can't I just leave everything to my children in my will?
Minors can’t legally control significant assets, so leaving money outright triggers court supervision and typically hands the full amount to the child at 18. A trust lets a trusted person manage the money and release it on terms you set.
What is a short-term or emergency guardian?
It’s the person authorized to care for your children in the immediate aftermath of an emergency, before a long-term guardian is confirmed. Naming one prevents your kids from being placed with strangers or authorities even briefly.
At what age should my children receive their inheritance?
That’s your choice. Many parents prefer staggered distributions, for example, portions at 25, 30, and 35, rather than a lump sum at 18, so the money supports education and stability rather than being spent quickly. We tailor this to your wishes.
How do I protect my child's inheritance from a future divorce?
Leaving the inheritance in a properly drafted trust, rather than outright, can help keep it separate from a child’s marital assets and shielded from creditors, a core goal of asset protection planning.
What if I have a child with special needs?
A special needs trust lets you provide for your child without jeopardizing means-tested benefits like SSI and Medicaid administered through the Social Security Administration. It’s one of the most important protections a parent can put in place.
Should I name the same person as guardian and money manager?
Not necessarily. The best caregiver isn’t always the best money manager. Many families name different people for each role, with checks in place. We’ll help you think it through.
How often should this plan be updated?
Revisit it as your family and finances change: new children, changes in relationships, or shifts in assets. We make our plans easy to update. Book a Family Wealth Planning Session to get started.
Rhode Island Resources & Related Pages
Our attorneys serve families and businesses throughout Rhode Island and nearby Massachusetts from our office in Cranston, with remote meetings available by Zoom or Microsoft Teams.
Official Rhode Island sources: Social Security Administration
Related pages on our site: Estate Planning · Wills & Trusts · Asset Protection Planning · Book a Consultation
Peace of Mind for Parents By Protecting Your Children Through Smart Planning
If you have young children, your estate plan should do more than just protect your assets. It should make absolutely sure your kids would be raised by the people you trust, in the way you want, no matter what life brings.
At Senerchia & Senerchia, we understand how deeply you care about your children and that’s why one of our greatest priorities is helping parents plan for their well-being.
We offer Children’s Legacy Protection Planning with every estate plan for families with young children. It is a thoughtfully designed set of legal documents, instructions, and emergency tools that ensures your children will always be cared for by the people you choose.
Your Children Deserve More Than Just a Will
In moments of uncertainty, nothing should be left to chance especially when it comes to your kids.
As parents, we instinctively put our children first. We protect them, guide them, and do everything we can to give them a safe and loving future. But have you truly planned for the unthinkable?
If something were to happen to you unexpectedly, the last thing you’d want is for your children to face confusion, uncertainty, or worse, be placed in the care of someone you wouldn’t have chosen.
Even if you have a Will, it may not be enough. Without the right legal protections, a judge who doesn’t know you or your wishes could decide who raises your children. And in some cases, they could even end up in the custody of child protective services, at least temporarily.
What’s more, the money you’ve set aside for their care could get stuck in court for months or years, leaving them without the resources they need. And when they turn 18, they might receive everything all at once with no guidance, no support, and no guardrails.
What Is A Children's Legacy Protection Plan
It’s every parent’s worst fear, something happening to you, and your children being left in the hands of strangers or the state, even just for a short time. Without clear legal guidance, that’s exactly what could happen.
A Children’s Legacy Protection Plan is designed to make sure your children are never placed with someone you wouldn’t choose—even temporarily. It puts your wishes in writing and gives the people you trust the legal authority and instructions they need to step in immediately.
It’s about more than documents. It’s about giving your kids stability, love, and guidance—even if you can’t be there yourself. You may never need it, but knowing it’s in place gives you peace of mind that your children will always be cared for by the people who know and love them most.
Your Children's Protection Plan includes:
- Legal nominations of short and long term guardians
- Powers of attorney for temporary guardians
- Clear caregiver instructions
- An ID wallet card authorities can use right away
- Personal letters for both temporary and long term guardians