A History Of Growing Trust In Kentucky

What factors should you weigh when selecting a guardian for your kids? 

On Behalf of | Feb 18, 2022 | Estate planning

A pregnancy or birth often makes people conscious of their own mortality and their concern for their child’s future — and that means getting an estate plan in order and selecting a guardian for their child in case they cannot be there to raise that child to adulthood.

 Understanding the factors you should weigh when selecting the right person for that role is very important.

What is the role of a guardian?

A guardian’s role is to step in and care for your child if something were to happen to you that left you unable to do so yourself. 

What makes someone a good guardian?

You may be inclined to think that it would be best to appoint someone who is older and who has parenting skills that you admire to the guardian role — like your own parents. While they may have more financial resources and time to spend with your kids, they may also exhibit dated parenting skills, could have more health concerns or unable to fulfill their role due to the infirmities of age. You may want to appoint someone younger to take this role.

Siblings or friends make good selections, especially if they live in the same area, have similar parenting styles, religious affiliations or kids around the same age. You should take time and observe how stable their marriage is and how and how financially prudent they are to make sure it aligns with your belief system before committing to anyone to serve as your kids’ guardian first, though. 

How do you appoint someone a guardian for your child?

You’ll want to discuss the issue with the other party before you make your selection and make sure they are comfortable with the idea. An estate planning attorney can go over how you may want to describe their prospective guardian role with them and answer any questions you may have about their potential responsibilities. Only then should you name a guardian for your children and put it in your estate plans

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