Choosing a guardian for your children is uncomfortable, but it’s better than the alternatives and it’s part of the Estate Planning process.
What if Your Child’s Guardians Gets Divorced?
You can indicate in your Will who you want to serve as your child’s guardian and include who shall continue to serve as guardian, if a couple named as guardians gets divorced.
Characteristics of a Good Guardian
No one will raise your children exactly as you would, but if you choose the right guardians and communicate with them about your own values and goals for your children, they’ll be better prepared to ensure that your children will be cared for and loved.
Here are the main guardian characteristics to consider:
- Know, love, and enjoy spending time with your child
- Healthy so they can mentally and physically care for your child
- Whether there are already children in the home
- Will foster relationships with extended family and friends
- Matching parenting, discipline, religious, social, political, and educational views
- Can work well with trustees/guardians of the estate and your estate planning attorney and financial advisor
- Lives in same school district
- Willing to honor your wishes of how to raise children
We understand naming guardians is a tough thing to do but it’s well worth the effort. If you missed it, please go back and read, How to Choose Your Child’s Guardians, part 1 of this article.
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