Coogan Law Guide
A reference card explaining Coogan accounts and the legal financial protections for child performers
Overview
The Coogan Law Guide is a resource card that explains the Coogan Law, which requires that a percentage of a minor's entertainment earnings be set aside in a blocked trust account until the child reaches adulthood. The law is named after Jackie Coogan, the child star whose earnings were spent by his parents.
Understanding Coogan accounts is essential for any family with a child who earns money in the entertainment industry. The guide covers how to set up a Coogan account, which states enforce the requirement, and what percentage of earnings must be protected.
How It Works
The guide also addresses common questions about how Coogan funds are managed, when the child can access the money, and what happens if a production fails to comply with the law. These are details every stage parent should understand clearly.
This resource card is free and designed for quick reference. It distills the key points of the Coogan Law into an accessible format that does not require legal expertise to understand.
Who Uses It
If your child is booking paid work in entertainment, setting up a Coogan account should be one of your first steps. This guide will walk you through the process and help you protect your child's earnings. The guide also clarifies common misconceptions about how Coogan funds are invested and what types of accounts qualify under the law. Parents will find the step-by-step instructions particularly helpful when dealing with banks or financial institutions that may be unfamiliar with Coogan trust requirements.
Pricing & Plans
The Coogan Law Guide is completely free to access, with no registration, subscription, or payment required. It is designed as a public educational resource that any family can consult at any time without barriers. Compared to consulting an entertainment attorney about Coogan account setup, which can run two hundred fifty to five hundred dollars per hour, this guide provides the foundational knowledge at no cost. The guide does not replace legal counsel for complex financial situations, but for the majority of families it covers everything needed to understand and comply with the law. There are no paid upgrades or premium versions, and all information is available in a single, straightforward format. For families on tight budgets, this resource removes cost as an obstacle to understanding their child's financial protections.
Pros & Cons
What's Great
The guide's greatest strength is its ability to distill a complex piece of legislation into plain language that any parent can understand without a legal background. It covers the most critical aspects of the Coogan Law, including the required percentage of earnings that must be set aside, which states enforce the requirement, and how to establish a compliant trust account. The step-by-step format makes it actionable rather than merely informational, giving parents a clear path from reading to implementation. The guide addresses edge cases and frequently asked questions that are not always covered in casual discussions of the Coogan Law. Its brevity is a feature rather than a limitation, ensuring that busy parents can absorb the essential information in a single sitting. The resource is regularly referenced by other child performer advocacy organizations as a reliable starting point.
What Could Be Better
The guide is intentionally concise, which means it does not cover every nuance of Coogan Law enforcement across all fifty states, leaving gaps for families in states with less common provisions. It does not provide personalized financial advice, so families with significant earnings or complex financial situations will still need to consult a qualified attorney or financial advisor. The guide does not include interactive tools such as calculators for estimating trust contributions or templates for communicating with financial institutions. Some families may find the resource too basic if they already have a general understanding of Coogan accounts and need advanced guidance. The guide does not address international productions or situations where a child performs outside the United States, which can create additional legal complexities. Updates to the guide may lag behind legislative changes, so families should cross-reference with current state statutes for the most up-to-date information.
Our Recommendation
The Coogan Law Guide is essential reading for every parent whose child is earning money in the entertainment industry, regardless of how small the initial earnings may seem. It is the right starting point for families who are completely new to the concept of Coogan accounts and need to understand the basics before taking action. Parents whose children have been working for some time without a Coogan account should use this guide as a prompt to get into compliance immediately. If your child's earnings are substantial or your financial situation is complex, use the guide as a foundation and then consult an entertainment attorney for personalized advice. Families working in states with strong child performer protections like California and New York will find the guide particularly relevant and actionable. For those in states with weaker protections, the guide still provides a framework for voluntarily setting up financial safeguards.
Pro Tips
Read the entire guide before visiting a bank to open a Coogan account, as having a clear understanding of the requirements will help you communicate effectively with financial professionals who may be unfamiliar with the law. Keep a copy of the guide accessible so you can reference it each time your child books a new job and earnings need to be allocated to the trust. Use the guide's information to ask pointed questions of any agent, manager, or production company about how they handle Coogan compliance. If a production does not proactively mention Coogan accounts, that is a red flag worth investigating further before allowing your child to proceed. Pair this guide with BizParentz Foundation resources for a more comprehensive understanding of the legal landscape for child performers. Review the guide annually, as your understanding of the details will deepen as your child's career and earnings grow.