One of the most important aspects of planning an estate is choosing a guardian for your minor children in case you die suddenly. You want to ensure someone responsible and loving looks after your kids. The estate planning lawyers at Kamper & Estrada, PLLC share some of the things you should think about when choosing a guardian for your children:
Appoint More Than One Guardian
The individual you appoint to be the guardian of your children might be the greatest person in the world, but what happens if he or she dies unexpectedly or becomes unable to care for your kids? That is why it is a wise idea to include an alternate guardian in your will. If something should happen to the first guardian you choose, you at least know that your kids will still be taken care of by someone you trust.
Consider the Person’s Financial Stability
When deciding who to appoint as your children’s guardian, it is important to take financial stability into account. Does the person you are considering appointing have a steady job and have his or her financial house in order? Raising kids costs a lot of money and you want to make sure the person you choose as their guardian can realistically afford to do so.
Choose Someone With the Same Values
Before you appoint a person as the guardian of your children, make sure he or she shares similar values when it comes to raising children. For instance, if you always have your kids do their homework right after they get home from school and have them do housework on the weekends to teach responsibility, you will want a guardian who is willing to do the same.
Think About the Person’s Age
It is a wise idea to pick a guardian who is fairly young and in good physical health. That way, you can rest assured that the person will be healthy enough to take good care of your kids.
Get Approval
It is not recommended to include a guardian in your will before you get approval. You just never know if the person you want to care for your children can’t fulfill the task for whatever reason. Sit down with the person you want to appoint as guardian and ask if that is something he or she can do. If this person is unable to do it, you still have time to choose someone else.
Appointing a guardian for your children can be a much simpler process if you follow these tips. If you need additional help with choosing a guardian, the estate planning attorneys at Kamper & Estrada, PLLC would be happy to help. They can answer all of your questions and help you get one step closer to appointing the right guardian for your kids.
If you would like to schedule a free consultation, we encourage you to give us a call at (602) 230-1234.
