How do we protect the property or money while leaving money to a minor or a beneficiary with special needs is unresolved?

While the legal issue is unresolved, preserve the property, maintain insurance, limit payments to authorized expenses, and keep a written record of each action. If a beneficiary receives means tested assistance, receiving an inheritance outright can affect eligibility, and a properly drafted special needs trust may be appropriate. As part of the legal review, beneficiary forms must be coordinated with the trust because naming the wrong recipient can bypass the intended plan. Probate and property outcomes can change with state law, trust language, and family rights, so it is worth having a local estate attorney review the documents and current court or title status before any irreversible action is taken.