Not many people want to think about their death, especially parents of young children. But having arrangements in place helps people feel more comfortable and at ease talking about their passing. If you pass away and haven’t named your child’s legal guardian, a judge will do so for you. It’s best for you to decide for yourself who will raise your minor children when you are no longer here and name your child’s legal guardian in your will.
So, what does it mean to have guardianship? Guardianship is the legal arrangement where a non-parent takes custody of your children and raises them for you.
No one can raise your children as well as you can. But if something happens to you, who do you want to take care of your children? There is a lot to think about, but here are 5 considerations when naming your child’s legal guardian:
You also want to make sure to name an alternate guardian. You’ll need to have someone lined up if your first choice becomes unable to raise your kids. It’s best if you have several options for guardianship.
Deciding on the guardianship of your children is an important and loving decision. It needs to be done right for the judge to accept and follow your wishes. An experienced estate planning lawyer will help you draft this legally binding agreement.
But don’t worry; you can always change your mind. You should update your will every 3 years, and that is an excellent time to review your guardianship decision and change your will if needed.
An Illinois estate planning lawyer can help you create a will and name guardianship over your children. Consulting with us can give you peace of mind for your child’s future. Contact the Estate & Probate Legal Group at 630-864-5835.
We serve Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake and Will counties.
