Being a new parent might mean deciding what bedtime lullaby to play or who has diaper duty next. But while you are enjoying this new chapter in your life, you must now also be proactive with naming guardians for your children. Naming a legal guardian for your child is possibly the most important reason for either updating or creating your estate plan.
A legal guardian is the person you choose to raise your child in the unfortunate event something happens to both you and your partner before your child reaches adulthood. If you do fail to designate a guardian, then the court will step in and decide for you. When the court does get involved, they might not necessarily choose the person you would have designated had you had the chance. It might not even be your parents or your siblings.
When we first meet with clients with minor children, we suggest our clients start thinking of what matters most to them with regards to raising their children. Is there someone who shares your values, beliefs, and lifestyle? What about your views on parenting and education? Can that person care for a child with love? Are they physically, emotionally, and financially healthy?
These are all some of the preliminary considerations to think over when discussing who to name as guardians of your children. We have even worked with clients to create instructions to their guardians regarding specific wishes they have for their children. This is just a minor example of how personalized we are when it comes to creating the right estate plan for you and your family.
For some people, it’s an easy and obvious choice of who they want to name as guardian of their children. For others, choosing a guardian requires time and careful consideration. You and your partner should absolutely agree on this choice, and you both should name the same person in your respective documents. You’re going to want to work with an experienced estate-planning attorney who will make protecting your family’s future their priority, and we can certainly help with that. 818.956.9200
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Glendale, CA 91207
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Sherman Oaks, CA 91403