Choosing a Guardian

Including a Guardian selection as part of your estate plan is a necessary component if you have young or adolescent children. When making your selection, it’s important to measure a range of factors and not limit yourself to obvious choices of close family members. A good guardian will be able to not only raise your children, but also love them, care for them and serve as a positive role model.

Lifestyle Choices

Let’s say you have a sister who is great with your kids and a good potential guardian. But, that sister also lives in a small apartment in the city. If your sister is unable or unwilling to relocate, that may not be the type of environment you want your children to live in.

Parenting Styles

Caring for a child as a guardian is a full-time job and one that requires the ability to not only provide instruction and guidance, but also discipline when required. Your selection for guardian must also be able to instill the proper values in your children and raise them in a manner that you approve of.

Allow for Imperfection and Instinct

There is likely no one in your life who will fit every possible desired trait that you would choose if you could create a perfect guardian. What you need to do is decide what traits are most important, as well as those which are desirable yet not necessary. You may even find a potential guardian who is ideally suited that you just don’t have a good feeling about. On the other hand, someone who might need a little assistance in a couple of areas may at first glance seem like less than a good choice, but your feelings about that person may persuade you that he or she is a good choice.