- (224) 404-3302
- 11 N. Northwest Hwy., Suite 129, Park Ridge, IL 60068
Ensure Your Children Are Raised by People You Trust | Legal Guardianship Designations and Inheritance Protection | Free 15-Minute Consultation
Kids protection planning ensures your children are cared for by people you choose if something happens to you. It goes beyond simply naming a guardian in your will. Comprehensive kids protection includes permanent and temporary guardian designations, instructions for your children’s care, inheritance protection trusts, and plans for both short-term emergencies and long-term scenarios.
At Dracheva Law, we help Park Ridge parents create thorough protection plans for their children. We address the questions most parents overlook, such as who cares for your kids if you are hospitalized, traveling, or temporarily unavailable, not just if you pass away.
Legal nomination of the people who will raise your children permanently if both parents pass away
Detailed instructions about your children's routines, medical needs, schools, activities, and parenting preferences
Short-term guardians who can care for your children immediately during emergencies, travel, or hospitalization
Legally document individuals you do not want to have custody or access to your children under any circumstances
Protect your children's inheritance with trust provisions that control when and how they receive assets
Authorize temporary caregivers to make medical decisions and access healthcare for your children in emergencies
Most attorneys only address permanent guardianship in a will. We create comprehensive protection that covers temporary emergencies, detailed care instructions, medical authorizations, and exclusion provisions, ensuring your children are protected in every scenario.
Choosing who raises your children is difficult. We guide you through the decision-making process, helping you evaluate potential guardians, consider backup options, and think through scenarios you may not have considered.
Kids protection planning is included in our comprehensive estate planning packages at a flat fee. You know exactly what protection costs before you commit, with no hourly billing surprises.
We discuss your family situation, identify potential guardians, and understand your wishes for your children's care, upbringing, and inheritance.
We help you evaluate potential guardians, consider backup options, discuss how to handle family dynamics, and document any exclusions.
We prepare guardian designations, children's trust provisions, care instructions, medical authorizations, and any exclusion provisions your situation requires.
We execute all documents properly, guide you on communicating with named guardians, and provide instructions for storing and sharing your kids protection plan.
If you have children under 18, you need a kids protection plan. Without one, the court decides who raises your children and how they receive their inheritance.
If there are people you do not want raising your children, such as an estranged parent, ex-spouse, or problematic relative, exclusion provisions are essential.
As a single parent, you are the only line of protection. You need permanent guardians, temporary guardians, and backup plans in case something happens to you.
Children with special needs require additional planning, including special needs trusts and detailed care instructions to ensure their unique needs are met.
If you travel for work or pleasure without your children, you need temporary guardian designations and medical authorizations for caregivers while you are away.
Stepchildren, half-siblings, and children from prior relationships require careful planning to ensure each child is protected according to your wishes.
A permanent guardian raises your children if both parents pass away, taking on full parental responsibilities long-term. A temporary guardian cares for your children during short-term emergencies, such as hospitalization, travel, or a sudden crisis. Both designations are important because permanent guardians may not live nearby or be immediately available. Temporary guardians bridge the gap until permanent arrangements can be made.
Yes. You can include exclusion provisions in your estate plan documenting individuals you do not want to have custody or unsupervised access to your children. While courts ultimately decide custody disputes, your documented wishes carry significant weight. Exclusion provisions are especially important when estranged parents, problematic relatives, or other concerning individuals might otherwise seek custody.
If both parents die without naming a guardian, the Cook County Probate Court appoints someone to raise your children. Family members may petition for custody, potentially leading to disputes. A judge who does not know your family makes the final decision based on limited information. This public process can be lengthy, contentious, and result in your children going to someone you would not have chosen.
Consider someone who shares your values and parenting philosophy, has a stable home environment, is willing and able to take on the responsibility, and has a good relationship with your children. Think about their age, health, location, and existing family obligations. You can name different people for different roles and should always name backup guardians. We help you think through these decisions during your consultation.
Care instructions typically cover daily routines, bedtimes, dietary needs and restrictions, medical conditions and medications, allergies, school information, extracurricular activities, religious or cultural practices, discipline approaches, screen time limits, and contact information for pediatricians, teachers, and close family friends. The more detail you provide, the easier the transition for your children and their guardians.
Yes, both parents should agree on guardian designations whenever possible. If parents have conflicting nominations in separate wills, the court ultimately decides. For divorced or separated parents, custody arrangements and existing court orders affect how guardianship works. We help you navigate these situations and create documents that reflect agreed-upon decisions or address potential conflicts.
Review your plan after major life events, such as divorce, remarriage, moving, birth of additional children, or changes in your relationship with named guardians. You should also update your plan if a named guardian becomes unable or unwilling to serve, if your children’s needs change significantly, or if family dynamics shift. We recommend a general review every three to five years at minimum.
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Don’t navigate probate alone. Let us handle the legal complexity while you focus on your family.
Dracheva Law, LLC
11 N. Northwest Hwy., Suite 129
Park Ridge, IL 60068
Phone: (224) 404-3302
Email: info@drachevalaw.com
Serving:
Park Ridge, Des Plaines, Niles, Arlington Heights, Mount Prospect, Glenview, Skokie, and all of Cook County
