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custodial account

custodial account

1 6.1
An account that holds money for a child and an adult manages until they reach legal age
  • noun
  • /kəˈstoʊdiəl əˈkaʊnt/
  • Specialized
translation icon : cuenta de custodia
  • Many grandparents choose to open a custodial account as a gift for their grandchildren's future.
  • money in a custodial account
  • custodial account for a child
  • 529 savings plans; custodial accounts

Examples

  • A custodial account helps manage funds for minors.

  • Many parents opt for a custodial account because it is managed by a guardian until the child reaches legal age.

  • Funds in a custodial account legally belong to the minor but are overseen by an adult until the child comes of age.

  • The parents set up a custodial account to save for their daughter's college expenses.

  • She opened a custodial account for her son.

  • A custodial account allows parents to manage their child's savings until they turn 18.

  • You can establish a custodial account to help save for your child's education.

How Controlled

trust account
  • Specialized
3 4.4
custodial account
  • Specialized
1 6.1
brokerage account
  • Specialized
4 5.5

Surface Forms

Morphology

custodial + account

The phrase 'custodial account' is compositional: 'custodial' denotes responsibility for safekeeping and 'account' denotes a record or service for holding funds, so a learner who knows both words can infer an account where a third party keeps or manages assets. Although used in specific domains (finance/cryptocurrency), the underlying custody+account logic is straightforward and cross-linguistically common, making the meaning accessible to a B1 learner.

Etymology

Custodial account comes from custodial, which links to the word 'custody' meaning care, and account as a place to keep money. Imagine an adult holding a child's piggy bank and keeping it safe until the child is old enough. That's why a custodial account is money that legally belongs to the child but is managed by an adult until the child comes of age.