Estate Planning for Parents of Young Children: Choosing the Right Guardians
If both parents die or become incapacitated without a legally valid estate plan, a court will determine who will care for the child. Although courts aim to act in the child’s best interests, the outcome may not reflect the parents’ wishes and can result in family conflict, delays, and emotional stress. By naming long and short-term guardians in advance, parents retain control over who will raise their children, how they are raised, and the values with which they are raised, and can provide clarity during an otherwise uncertain time.