Legal Protections for Child Actors

The entertainment industry has a history with child performers that is not always pretty. Children whose earnings were spent by their parents, whose education was neglected, whose wellbeing was sacrificed for production schedules -- these stories are why the legal protections exist today.

These laws are not bureaucratic obstacles to complain about. They are safeguards built on the real experiences of real children who were exploited by the people who should have been protecting them. Understanding them is not optional. It is your legal obligation as the parent of a working child actor, and frankly, it is your moral one too.

The Coogan Law

The History

The Coogan Law is named after Jackie Coogan, one of the most famous child actors of the silent film era. Coogan earned an estimated $3 to $4 million as a child (equivalent to over $50 million today) only to discover when he reached adulthood that his parents had spent nearly all of it.

His story led to California's Child Actors Bill (California Family Code Section 6750) in 1939, which has been updated and strengthened multiple times since. The most significant update came in 2000 (AB 1660), which established the blocked trust requirement as we know it today.

The Trust Requirement

Under the current Coogan Law, at least 15% of a minor's gross entertainment earnings must be deposited into a blocked trust account (a Coogan account) within 15 business days of employment.

Key details:

• The account is set up at a financial institution in the child's name
• The money is blocked -- no one can withdraw it, including the parent, until the child turns 18
• The 15% is calculated on gross earnings -- before taxes, before agent commissions, before any deductions
• This applies to all entertainment work: film, television, commercials, theater, modeling, and digital content

State-by-State Trust Requirements

Not all states have identical Coogan provisions. Here is where the major production states stand:

How to Set Up a Coogan Account

Setting up a Coogan account is straightforward:

1. Find a bank that offers Coogan trust accounts. Not all banks are familiar with them. Banks in entertainment markets (Los Angeles, New York, Atlanta) are most experienced. Call ahead and ask specifically about Coogan or blocked trust accounts for minors.
2. Bring required documents: ID for yourself and your child, your child's Social Security number, and documentation of their entertainment employment.
3. The account is established in the child's name with trust provisions preventing withdrawal until age 18.
4. When your child is paid, 15% of gross goes directly into this account. Many productions will split the payment automatically if you provide the Coogan account information on the start paperwork.

Set up the account before your child's first paid job. Do not wait until the check arrives.

Your Child's Money Is Their Money

Your child's earnings from acting are their earnings. Not yours. Not the family's.

The remaining 85% (after the Coogan trust set-aside) can be used by the parent for the child's benefit and for reasonable expenses related to their career -- transportation, headshots, classes, coaching. But the spirit of the law is clear: the child did the work and is entitled to the financial benefit.

Entertainment Work Permits

In most US states, minors must obtain an entertainment work permit (sometimes called a minor's work permit) before being employed on a professional production.

Work Permit Requirements by State

The Permit Process

The typical process involves:

1. Application. The parent or guardian applies, usually through the state labor department or online portal.
2. School verification. Most jurisdictions require proof that the child is meeting educational requirements. A school administrator may need to sign off.
3. Medical clearance. Some states require a doctor's note confirming the child is physically able to work.
4. Production information. The specific production and employer may need to be identified (some states issue general permits, others are project-specific).
5. Validity period. Permits are typically valid for 6 months to 1 year, depending on jurisdiction.

Who Is Responsible

The production company is required to verify that a minor has a valid work permit before employing them. But as the parent, it is your responsibility to make sure the permit is in order before your child shows up to set. Do not assume the production has handled it. Confirm directly and bring a copy with you.

Studio Teachers and Welfare Workers

On union productions, a studio teacher (also called a set teacher or welfare worker) is required whenever a minor is working. The studio teacher serves two critical roles that you need to understand and support.

Education

• Provides on-set schooling so the child does not fall behind academically
• The child must receive a minimum of 3 hours of instruction per school day on set (California standard; varies by state)
• Instruction must meet the standards of the child's school district
• The studio teacher coordinates with the child's regular school to ensure assignments and curriculum align

Welfare

• Monitors working conditions and ensures hour limits are respected
• Serves as the child's on-set advocate
• Has the authority to pull a child from work if conditions are unsafe or the child is being pushed beyond appropriate limits
• Must be present during all work hours, including rehearsals
• Monitors the physical and emotional state of the child

The studio teacher is not there to make the production's life easier. They are there to protect your child. Support them in doing their job. If a studio teacher tells you something is wrong, listen. If they pull your child from a scene, back them up without hesitation. They have the authority and training to make that call.

Working Hour Limits by Age

The number of hours a child can work on set is legally limited. These limits vary by age and jurisdiction. Here is the California framework, which is the most detailed and commonly referenced:

Important notes:

• "Set hours" includes everything from the time the child arrives to the time they leave -- work, school, meals, rest, hair/makeup, and wardrobe
• Meal breaks must be provided and are typically 30 minutes to 1 hour, not counted against work time
• Night work restrictions apply in most states. In California, children under 16 generally cannot work past 8:00 PM on school nights or 10:00 PM on non-school nights
• Infants (under 6 months) have the strictest protections. A nurse must be present, and the infant can only be under lights for 20 minutes at a time with a 20-minute rest between

New York Differences

New York has its own framework that differs in several details:

• Children under 5 months cannot work at all
• Children 5 to 6 months are limited to 2 hours on set, 20 minutes of actual work
• Work hours for all ages are calculated differently than California
• Night work restrictions are more conservative in some age brackets

Georgia and Other States

Georgia has become a major production hub, but its child performer protections are less detailed than California or New York. Georgia relies primarily on general child labor statutes rather than entertainment-specific regulations.

If your child is working in a state you are not familiar with, research the local laws before the first day of work. Do not rely on the production to inform you. They may not know the specifics either, especially on lower-budget projects.

International Jurisdictions

If your child works internationally:

• Canada: Strong protections through provincial labor laws and ACTRA agreements. Each province has its own regulations.
• United Kingdom: Detailed regulations through the Children and Young Persons Act. Local authorities issue performance licenses.
• Australia: State-level working with children checks and MEAA (union) agreements govern child performer work.

Your Obligation as a Parent

You are the first and last line of defense for your child's legal protections. Productions should comply with these laws, and most do. But compliance is not universal, and even on well-run sets, oversights happen.

Before your child's first paid job:

• Set up the Coogan trust account
• Obtain the entertainment work permit
• Verify that a studio teacher will be present on set
• Know the hour limits for your child's age in your jurisdiction
• Have copies of all permits and account information organized and ready

On every job:

• Confirm the studio teacher is present and knows your child
• Monitor hours -- do not rely solely on the production's count
• Ensure meal and rest breaks are provided
• Verify that Coogan account deposits are made within the required timeframe
• Speak up immediately if anything is not right

These laws exist because children could not protect themselves. That job belongs to you.

Next Steps

1. Set up a Coogan trust account at a bank familiar with entertainment trusts before your child's first paid job. Call banks in your area and ask specifically about blocked trust accounts for minor performers.
2. Apply for your child's entertainment work permit through your state labor department. Know the renewal timeline and keep it current so you are never caught without a valid permit when an opportunity comes.
3. Print the hour-limits table for your child's age group and bring it to every set day. Know the numbers yourself rather than relying on the production to track them for you.