A comprehensive estate plan—which we prefer to see as a Life and Legacy Plan—can protect everything you have and everyone you love.
Obviously, providing for the care of your children is essential for your peace of mind. However, many parents struggle with decisions like who to name as legal guardian for their child in their plan. Even the fictional parents in the popular television sitcom Modern Family struggled with this issue in a recent episode. Jay and his much younger new wife Gloria agonized and argued about who they should name as a legal guardian for their children. Meanwhile, their children were left at risk that if something happened to Jay and Gloria before the legal documents were in place, a judge would make the decision for them. This is not ideal under any circumstances.
Take a few minutes to consider right now: if both you and your child’s other parent were to become incapacitated or die right now, who would step forward to care for your child? Would that be who you would want to raise your child if you could not? Is that who you would want to take care of the financial assets you are leaving behind?
And what about the short-term? Are your children often left in the care of a babysitter who would have no idea what to do if you didn’t make it home at the end of the evening? If not, even if you have named legal guardians, your child could be taken into the care of strangers if something happens to you while the authorities figure out what to do.
Unfortunately, even if you have made the hard decisions and worked with a lawyer to name legal guardians in a will, your kids could still be at risk. Naming guardians only in a will doesn’t take into account what would happen if you become incapacitated. It also doesn’t plan for the short-term care of your children if your named guardians all live far from your home. The only way to ensure your kids are raised by the people you want, in the way you want, and never (even temporarily) taken into the care of strangers is by creating a comprehensive Kids Protection Plan®, which only a select few lawyers like us are trained to provide.
If you are ready to take that step, start by sitting down with us. As your Personal Family Lawyer®, we can walk you step by step through creating a comprehensive Kids Protection Plan® that not only names a legal guardian for your child in your will, but also ensures your children’s care is fully provided for, in the short-term and the long-term, and in the event of your incapacity. If necessary, we can also include documents in your plan to ensure that anyone you would not want to raise your kids never could or would.
Working with a trusted Personal Family Lawyer® will ensure your entire family is protected and cared for no matter what. Contact us today to get started! Or, click here if you’d like to read the best-selling book on legal planning for parents, Wear Clean Underwear: A Fast, Fun, Friendly -- and Essential -- Guide to Legal Planning for Busy Families.