Do you have a child under the age of 18? Are you concerned about what would happen to this person if you and your spouse were to pass on?
If you find yourself thinking about this, it’s imperative to name a guardian in the near future. This is a big part of your estate plan, so you don’t want to put it on the back burner any longer.
Here are some of the questions to ask when choosing a guardian for your child:
— Whose parenting style most closely aligns with the way that you are currently raising the child?
— Who is able to take on the job of caring for your child, both physically and emotionally?
— Who has the financial resources to properly care for your child?
— Is there anyone in particular that your child is already comfortable with?
— Does the person you are strongly considering have children?
— Have you discussed your thoughts with any potential guardians?
All of these questions are extremely important to address. Also, keep this in mind: you should never name a guardian until you first discuss this with the person. Just because you think somebody would be happy to take on this responsibility does not mean it’s true.
Choosing a guardian for a child is one of the biggest estate planning decisions you will ever make. For this reason, you should tackle the process immediately. Once you take care of this detail, you can feel better about the future and how your child would be cared for if you are no longer around.
Source: Baby Center, “How to choose a guardian for your child,” accessed March 24, 2017