As a parent, one of the most important – yet often overlooked – tasks is legally naming guardians for your minor children. Guardians are the individuals you choose to care for your children if you become unable to do so due to death or incapacity. If you haven’t legally documented your choices, your children could be left in the care of someone you wouldn’t have chosen or, worse, placed in the custody of the state while the court decides. Taking action now can prevent unnecessary stress, conflict, and a lengthy court process for your loved ones.
Naming Legal Guardians Is Essential
Simply having nearby relatives or godparents isn’t enough – guardians must be named in a legal document to ensure your wishes are honored.
However, naming long-term guardians is only part of the solution. Many parents fail to consider what would happen immediately after an emergency. If no legally authorized adult is available to care for your children, law enforcement may have no choice but to call Child Protective Services.
Filling the Gap with Temporary Guardians
To prevent your children from ever being in the care of strangers, we’ve created the Kids Protection Plan, a comprehensive system that ensures your children are cared for by the right people at all times. This plan allows you to:
✔️ Name both long-term and temporary guardians to step in immediately if needed.
✔️ Provide clear instructions to caregivers and emergency contacts on who to call first.
✔️ Ensure that all named guardians have the legal authority to care for your children without court delays.
✔️ Create an ID card and emergency instructions to keep your guardianship plan easily accessible.
A Foolproof Plan for Your Kids’ Safety
The Kids Protection Plan allows you to name at least one primary and one backup guardian, ensuring your children are always cared for by someone you trust. You can also confidentially exclude anyone you would never want raising your children, preventing unnecessary legal battles.
As part of our Life & Legacy Planning, we help parents put the right protections in place so their children are never left vulnerable. Don’t wait until it’s too late – contact us today to get started on securing your child’s future.
At Cheever Law, APC, we don’t just draft documents; we ensure you make informed and empowered decisions about life and death for yourself and the people you love, starting with a valuable and educational Life & Legacy Planning Session. This will allow you to get more financially organized and make the best choices for the people you love. If you have already completed your estate plan, we will review that plan at your Life & Legacy Planning Session to ensure that it will work the way you intend and address any holes or gaps that may be present if circumstances have changed since you executed your plan.
To learn more about our one-of-a-kind systems and services, contact us or schedule a no-obligation 15-minute introductory phone call today.