Estate Planning Lawyer
If you have minor children, it’s a wise idea to appoint a legal guardian for them. Even if you are young and healthy right now, you never know what the future holds. If you should die suddenly, you want your children to be taken care of by the right person. Here are some tips for choosing the right guardian for your children.
Consider the Person’s Age
When deciding on a guardian for their kids, many people appoint their parents as the legal guardians. However, depending on how old your parents are right now, this might not be the best idea. Looking after young children can be a lot of work, and an older person may not be able to physically keep up. There’s also a possibility that they may get very ill and can’t take care of your kids anymore. As such, it may be better to choose a younger legal guardian.
Choose Someone Who Lives Nearby
As an estate planning lawyer can confirm, the guardian’s location is something else you have to consider. If the potential guardian has many great qualities, but lives states away, he or she might not be the best choice. After all, you have to consider what your children may have to give up. If they move far away, they will have to leave their school, friends and other family. The transition can be quite traumatic.
Look at the Person’s Physical and Mental Health
As mentioned above, raising children is a lot of work. That is why the legal professionals at Silverman Law Office, PLLC may suggest appointing a legal guardian who is in good physical and mental health. If the person has a chronic illness, he or she may not be able to keep up with the children and provide them with the kind of care they need. By choosing someone who actively participates in a lifestyle that promotes wellness, you can help ensure they can keep up with the demands of being a parent.
Select Someone Who is Financially Stable
From food to medical costs and clothes, there are a lot of costs that go into raising children. As such, it is a wise move to select a guardian who is financially stable. He or she should be able to comfortably provide your kids with the lifestyle they deserve. You may also consider setting up a trust to assist with the financial costs of raising your children.
Consider the Person’s Values
Ideally, you want to choose a guardian who shares similar values as yourself. That way, you know that your kids will be raised the way you intended. For example, if you’re a religious person and take your children to church, you may want to choose a guardian who will do the same.
Select Someone with Good Parenting Skills
Not everyone has good parenting skills. Just because your close friend or relative agrees to babysit your children from time to time, doesn’t mean that he or she is ready to take care of them full-time. It is important to choose someone who knows how to raise children.
Schedule a meeting with an estate planning lawyer today.