Tips for Naming a Guardian for Your Children
One of the last things you want to talk about any day of the week is having someone else raise your kids because an unexpected tragedy has struck and you are no longer able to take care of your children. But, isn't it better to have a say in who raises your kids when you can't than the alternative? The Lake of the Ozarks estate planning attorneys at Phillips, McElyea, Carpenter, and Welch are here to give you a few tips for naming a guardian of your children. If you need any assistance with this or creating your estate plan altogether, you should contact an experienced attorney at the Lake of Ozarks as soon as possible. Call (573) 346-7231 for your free consultation today.
Talk to your kids about this and be honest.
The guardian is the person that you name in your will to care for your children in the event you untimely pass away before they are of age. You can control the tempo of this conversation but the point here is to know who your kids may feel comfortable with and not so comfortable with.
Think about the next few years when you choosing your guardian versus the next decade.
If you are a younger parent and your children very fond of their grandparents, you may be apt to choose your parents as their guardians. Others may try to talk you out of that because your parents are clearly older than you, but you need to focus on the next few years versus forever. Then in the next few years, you can reevaluate and change your guardian if you need to.
It's ok to name different guardians for different children if that's what works for your family situation.
If you have some children who love with you that are from a previous marriage and some kids from your current marriage, but you're not sure they would all want to continue to live together upon your passing - you CAN name more than one guardian for your children.
Explain why you chose who you chose in your will.
If you have passed away and people are questioning why you chose the guardian you chose, a handwritten explanation can really go a long way.
We know this is the last thing you want to think about but is too important not to. Get your guardian chosen and put in your estate plan if you have children, as soon as possible. Contact us to set up a free consultation. We have evening and weekend appointments available. Our firm is conveniently located by the Camden County courthouse, and we have an open door policy for clients to just stop by to discuss their legal needs. Give us a call today at (573) 346-7231.
Tips for Naming a Guardian for Your Children
Talk to your kids about this and be honest.
The guardian is the person that you name in your will to care for your children in the event you untimely pass away before they are of age. You can control the tempo of this conversation but the point here is to know who your kids may feel comfortable with and not so comfortable with.
Think about the next few years when you choosing your guardian versus the next decade.
If you are a younger parent and your children very fond of their grandparents, you may be apt to choose your parents as their guardians. Others may try to talk you out of that because your parents are clearly older than you, but you need to focus on the next few years versus forever. Then in the next few years, you can reevaluate and change your guardian if you need to.
It's ok to name different guardians for different children if that's what works for your family situation.
If you have some children who love with you that are from a previous marriage and some kids from your current marriage, but you're not sure they would all want to continue to live together upon your passing - you CAN name more than one guardian for your children.
Explain why you chose who you chose in your will.
If you have passed away and people are questioning why you chose the guardian you chose, a handwritten explanation can really go a long way.
We know this is the last thing you want to think about but is too important not to. Get your guardian chosen and put in your estate plan if you have children, as soon as possible. Contact us to set up a free consultation. We have evening and weekend appointments available. Our firm is conveniently located by the Camden County courthouse, and we have an open door policy for clients to just stop by to discuss their legal needs. Give us a call today at (573) 346-7231.
Law Offices of Phillips, McElyea, Carpenter, & Welch, P.C.
The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely on advertising. When you need a knowledgeable attorney, we invite you to contact us to set up a consultation.
We accept Visa, MasterCard, and Discover.
109 East Highway 54, Suite 103
Camdenton, Missouri
(573) 346-7231 - Telephone
(888) 236-2485 - Toll-Free
(573) 346-4411 - Fax
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