Ideally, you’ll be around long enough to see your kids get well into their adulthood. However, there is no harm in being prepared for every possible situation. Accidents happen, and so do illnesses.
One step you might consider taking is nominating a legal guardian for your children. Essentially, this means naming a person that will be responsible for them until they become a legal adult. What factors should you consider when making this huge decision?
Has your child bonded with them?
If you don’t nominate a guardian, then it may be left to the courts to decide who looks after your children. The legal process may not follow your precise wishes. This is why it’s so important to get your wishes down in writing.
The best choice for a guardian might be someone who your child has bonded with already. This could be someone who has no legal rights to take custody of your children without you specifying that they do.
You don’t have to go with family
There is no one that you trust more to bring up a child than your parents. After all, they did a pretty good job with you and your siblings. However, raising young children can be tough physically.
Your parents are getting older now. Are they really going to be physically able to raise a child for several years and potentially more than a decade? While family can make an excellent choice, you are not obliged to go down this route. Close friends can also make excellent guardians.
There are few decisions more important than nominating a legal guardian for your children. This is why it’s probably best to seek some legal guidance first before making any commitments.