The wrongful death claim of a minor child can not expire until the child is of legal age to pursue such a claim. The two year statute of limitations therefore does not start to count down until the child's 18th birthday. For example, if a 15-year-old child lost their father in a work-related accident, that child's claim would be extended until two years after they are of legal age (so until their 20th birthday). A minor child is not required to wait until they turn 18 to pursue a wrongful death claim. A parent or guardian can pursue the claim on behalf of the minor child and this is usually a better idea than waiting, because the evidence necessary to win a wrongful death case will usually vanish long before the child becomes of legal age. When a parent or guardian pursues a wrongful death case on behalf of their minor child, the court will appoint an ad litem, a non-biased, third-party attorney, who will review the terms of the settlement or jury verdict to determine that the resolution was fair and in the best interest of the child. This keeps family members and other parties from helping themselves to the child's claim. Once the case is resolved, the money is put into the court's registry and is made available for the child when they come of legal age.