As a parent, the well-being of your child is likely at the forefront of your thoughts. You might have already considered designating permanent legal guardians for your child in the event something happens to you. If you haven’t, consider this a nudge to prioritize that task. Click HERE for a complimentary platform where you can appoint legal guardians for your little ones immediately.
However, merely naming permanent legal guardians might not ensure your children receive the care you desire from the individuals you trust. There’s even the potential danger of your kids ending up with strangers or individuals you’d never choose. Continue reading to see if this situation applies to your family. If it does, reach out to us without delay to establish your Kids Protection Plan.
1| You Leave Your Kids With Non-Related Caregivers
When you leave your minor children with a caregiver, other than a grandparent or family member who authorities would typically entrust your children to (though even with relatives, it’s never a sure thing), consider this scenario:
Your children are at home with the babysitter. An emergency occurs preventing you from returning, prompting a call to the authorities. When they arrive at your doorstep, what’s their next move?
Would they allow your kids to stay with the current caregiver while searching for your Will or guardian designation? Can they easily locate your legal paperwork? Does your documentation specify someone who can immediately care for your children? And would the authorities hand over your children to them without a court directive?
If these questions raise concerns, it’s time for a Kids Protection Plan® to bridge the gap.
Nominations for permanent guardianship come into effect only upon your death and are formalized through the judicial system. This implies that in emergencies or if you’re incapacitated, your nominated guardians won’t have immediate legal authority.
As a result, in situations of sudden absence due to illness or accident, law enforcement might temporarily place your child under the care of social services. To mitigate this risk, we can designate short-term guardians, providing them with the necessary legal documents and immediate action steps if something were to happen to you.
Furthermore, we offer tools to ensure that anyone with your children in your absence knows precisely the course of action if you face an unforeseen incident.
2| You Have Someone In Your Life You Would NEVER Want Raising Your Kids
This might not be relevant to everyone, but if it resonates with you, it’s imperative to reach out to us about a Kids Protection Plan®. If there’s someone, you’d firmly want to prevent from raising your children in the event of your inability due to illness or injury, we can discreetly ensure they’re excluded from your plan through the Kids Protection Plan®. Moreover, we can design it such that this confidential document is only presented when crucial to protect your children from ending up in the custody of someone you deem unsuitable.
3| You Have Unique Desires For Your Kids’ Education, Health Care or Financial Well-Being
You’ve probably given a lot of thought to how you want to educate your children, the kinds of healthcare decisions you make for them, and how you want them to experience reality from a financial perspective. If that’s the case, then you absolutely want to ensure that anyone raising your children, if you can’t, will know how you would have wanted these decisions to be made.
Otherwise, if you don’t take the time to leave instructions to the people who could raise your children, they will not know how you would make decisions if you cannot be there to communicate your hopes, dreams, wishes, and desires.
And, here’s the great thing about this … there’s a 99% chance that you are not going to become incapacitated or die while your children are minors (phew), and yet taking the time to write down your unique desires for their well-being and care is an illuminating process in and of itself that will make you a better parent right now.
We hear it again and again from our clients that when they create their Kids Protection Plan® with us, they immediately feel a great deal of relief and a belief that they are being the best parents they can possibly be. They have more clarity about what’s really important to them, what they want to emphasize, who they want their children to develop relationships with, and where they can better focus their own time, energy, and attention.
If you aren’t sure where to start when creating these instructions, don’t worry. We will support you with the whole process when we create your Kids Protection Plan®.
Comprehensive Protection for The Ones You Love Most
Nominating permanent legal guardians is an essential piece of your estate plan, but in reality, it often isn’t enough to ensure your child remains in the care of people you choose, know, love, and trust if something happens to you. If your children are ever left with a relative, or if there is anyone in your life you wouldn’t want raising your kids, or if you have unique high-value wishes for the way your children are raised when it comes to their education, health, or financial well-being, you need a full-fledged Kids Protection Plan®.
To learn more ways a comprehensive Kids Protection Plan® can protect your family, I invite you to click HERE to download a free copy of the best-selling book on legal planning for parents, Wear Clean Underwear!: A Fast, Fun, Friendly and Essential Guide to Legal Planning for Busy Parents, as my gift to you.
This material was created for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as ERISA, tax, legal, or investment advice. If you are seeking legal advice specific to your needs, such advice services must be obtained on your own separate from this educational material.