As a parent, you’ve probably thought about the importance of naming permanent legal guardians for your child in case something happens to you. If you haven’t yet, take this as the sign that now’s the time to do it, in case the unthinkable happens to you.
But in some cases, naming permanent legal guardians for your child may not be enough to guarantee they’ll always be cared for in the way you want by the people you want. There may even be a risk of your kids being taken into the care of strangers or someone you would never want.
Read on to find out if that’s the case for your family, and if it is, contact us ASAP to get your Kids Protection Plan in place.
You Leave Your Kids With Non-Related Caregivers
If you leave your minor kids with a caregiver who isn’t a family member the authorities will leave your kids with if something happens to you, this is what could happen.
Your kids are home with the babysitter. You don’t make it home, and the authorities are called. The authorities show up at your house, and what would they do?
Would they leave your children at home with the person taking care of them while they attempt to find your Will or legal guardian nomination? Would they even be able to find your legal documents? Would your legal documents name someone who would be immediately available to come to stay with your children, and would the authorities leave your children with those people without a court order?
If not, you need a Kids Protection Plan® to fill in the gap.
Permanent guardian nominations only take effect upon your passing and are made official through the court system. This means they don’t give legal authority to your chosen guardians in an emergency or if you become incapacitated.
Because of this, law enforcement could place your child into protective custody with social services in the event of your sudden absence or incapacity. To minimize the chances of this happening, we name legal guardians for the short-term, and give those named guardians the legal documentation and instructions they need if something happens to you.
In addition, we’ll give you tools to ensure that anyone staying with your children knows exactly what to do if something happens to you.
You Have Someone In Your Life You Would NEVER Want Raising Your Kids
If this applies to you, contact us for a Kids Protection Plan®. If you have anyone in your life you wouldn’t want to raise your kids, we can ensure that person is confidentially excluded from your plan. And we can structure it so this document is only brought forward if necessary to keep your children out of the care of the person you would never want to raise them.
You Have Unique Desires For Your Kids’ Education, Health Care or Financial Well-Being
You’ve given a lot of thought to how you want to educate your children, the kinds of healthcare decisions you make for them, and how you want them to experience reality from a financial perspective. Because of this, you probably want to ensure anyone raising your children will know how you would want these decisions to be made.
Otherwise, if you don’t leave instructions communicating your hopes, dreams, and wishes to the people who would raise your children, the guardians won’t know how you’d make decisions for your family.
And here’s the great thing about this … there’s a 99% chance you aren’t going to become incapacitated or die while your children are minors yet taking time to write down your unique desires for their well-being and care is an illuminating process that will make you a better parent right now.
When our clients create their Kids Protection Plan® with us, they immediately feel a great deal of relief and a belief that they are being the best parents they can possibly be. They have more clarity about what’s important to them, what they want to emphasize, who they want their children to develop relationships with, and where they can better focus their own time, energy, and attention.
If you aren’t sure where to start when creating these instructions, don’t worry. We’ll support you through the whole process of creating your Kids Protection Plan.
Comprehensive Protection for The Ones You Love Most
Nominating permanent legal guardians is an essential piece of your estate plan, but in reality, it often isn’t enough to ensure your child remains in the care of people you choose, know, love, and trust if something happens to you. If your children are ever left with a relative, if there is anyone in your life you wouldn’t want to raise your kids, or if you have unique wishes for the way your children are raised when it comes to their education, health, or financial well-being, you need a full-fledged Kids Protection Plan®.
If you’re ready to create a Kids Protection Plan® for your child, the first step is to schedule your planning session. During the session, we’ll look at everything to get to know your family and your wishes on a personal level. Then we’ll explain how the law would affect your family if something happened to you today. Together, we’ll design a plan that will protect your assets and your loved ones, no matter what.
To get started, contact us for a complimentary 15-minute call. We can’t wait to protect your children and your entire family through comprehensive planning.
This article is a service of Hoover Rogers Law, Personal Family Lawyer®. We do not just draft documents; we ensure you make informed and empowered decisions about life and death, for yourself and the people you love. That's why we offer a Family Wealth Planning Session™, during which you will get more organized and make the best choices for the people you love. You can begin by calling our office today to schedule a Family Wealth Planning.
This material was created for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as ERISA, tax, legal, or investment advice. If you are seeking legal advice specific to your needs, such advice services must be obtained on your own separate from this educational material.