I just received my work permit 2 days ago, and I was wondering when should I get the Coogan account? Where did you guys go to get the account? Thank you!

I obtained my DD's account from here:
http://www.aftrasagfcu.org/coogan_accounts/open_coogan_account.cfm

You wont be able to renew the permit in six months without establishing a blocked trust. I got my child's shortly after getting the permit.

Good Luck!

While it is advisable to have a blocked trust, NY law does not require a block trust, just a custodial account (UTMA) that you can get at any bank. California, however, does require a blocked trust account, so it's a good idea to set one up at the get go. Just wanted to make it clear that you would be able to renew your NY permit if you established a UTMA account.

say if you where on the east coast and were planning on moving to the west coast in several years would it be better to just get a coogan account or get the utma and then the coogan once you move it's all the same and can still be used no matter where you live right?

thats actually the reason I opened that type of acct for my DD...in case she got work in LA or elsewhere...her account is good in both places so I did it now so I wont have to open any other accounts for her at the last minute when she needed to do work in LA or something.

If you obtain work on a film out of LA (even if you are cast out of NY), most will require coogans.

Yes, A California Coogan can be used for work in CA or NY (or any state for that matter). An UTMA (custodial account) or UGMA (blocked trust) with a NY banking institution will not be accepted by a CA production company or a production company which must comply with California Laws.

If you intend to move to the west coast, then why not open the CA Coogan now. It really gives you the most flexibility. Actors Federal Credit Union in NY will assist you in opening the CA account. You can speak with the staff in the NY office and they will open the account with their CA branch. I like the flexibility of having people in NY and LA who can help me. It takes about 15 minutes of your time to open the account with them, and the entire process can be done over the phone and with a fax machine. When we opened our CA Coogans, we called AFCU in NY at 3pm one day and had the account numbers by 10am the next morning. Our "Trustee Statement" (the document you give to production with account info) arrived via snail mail about 3 days after we opened the account.

Here's the contact info for Actors Federal Credit Union:
www.actorsfcu.com 212-869-8926

Gosh...I just called the Actors Federal Credit Union and the rep on the phone told me that CA Coogan is only for work in CA and in NY I have to open the Child Performers Account. I called the second time, and got a different person and she said we don't advice on that.. I guess it's my luck huh?...Now I am worried that whoever handles the application will open the Child Performer Trust account and not Coogan.

ravelsb, that is strange. You can absolutely use the CA Coogan for work done in NY! I have done it have never had a problem. The money has been deposited every time, no problems. Just tell AFCU you want to open the CA Coogan Trust Account for your child. The account application will be the same...at the top of the page it says " Child Performer Trust/Coogan Trust." But the other paperwork is slightly different...there are two different one-page "Custodial Certificate" applications. The one for the Coogan is called "Coogan Trust Account Custodial Certificate" and the one for the NY Child Performer Trust is called " Child Performer Trust Account." They both look like Certificates and are used to designate an account custodian (adult). One you receive the account documents you can verify that the correct account has been opened by looking at the account title. It will say either "Coogan" or "Child Performer Trust Account."
HTH