While tending to estate planning, you learn the importance of choosing a legal guardian for your children in case something happens to you and the child’s other parent. You do not want to think about not being present to raise your child, but it is a possibility you must consider. How do you decide who should watch over, raise and take care of your children?
See which tips Money Crashers offers to parents in your position. There may be more involved with choosing a legal guardian than you realize.
Friends and family
Your initial choices for legal guardian may be family, who may have a bond with your children. On the other hand, maybe you do not have a close relationship with your family. If you do not decide on a legal guardian on your own, courts often chose a family member to take care of kids when their parents pass without naming a guardian. You may prefer to name a close friend as a guardian rather than a distant relative.
Health and age
Consider a potential guardian’s age and health. While your kids may get along great with their grandparents, an elderly person with health complications may not serve as an optimal choice for a legal guardian. Depending on your children’s current age, they may need a guardian with enough energy to keep up with them.
Marital status
Are your potential legal guardians married, single, or divorced? You may prefer for a married couple to raise your children. That said, married couples may engage in toxic behaviors toward one another behind closed doors, behaviors they may inflict on your children.
Take your time deciding on a legal guardian for your children. Your choice affects several lives for several years.