legal}
Guardian
Choosing The Right Guardian For Minor Children By Kelly O’Brien, Attorney at Law
For many people their largest concern in estate planning is providing for their children. The best way to provide for your minor children after you are gone is to ensure that they have a loving and safe home. Everyone who has a child under the age of eighteen should consider who would raise their children if they were unable to do so. However, determining who would act as a guardian for minor children is perhaps the most difficult decision in estate planning, and the one with the most potential impact.
Perhaps the best place to start is by making a list of good potential candidates for the role of guardian. Initially this list may include brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, grandparents or even family friends, basically anyone you can think of that may act as a guardian.
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Then consider the factors that are most important to you in deciding on a guardian. Some considerations may include:
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·What is their relationship with your children and do they have a genuine interest in your children’s well being?
·What is their current job situation and do they have time available to care for your children?
·Do they have similar philosophies about raising children?
·Are they willing and interested in acting as a guardian for your children?
·What are their religious beliefs or do they possess the ability to follow your desires for your children’s religious upbringing?
·Do they have children of their own and are their children compatible with your children?
·Do they possess the ability to follow your instructions about education, activities and child rearing, in general? ·What is their age, health, and level of maturity? ·What is their level of stability and integrity?
·Do they live in the same geographic area as you? Is this important? ·What are their social, political and moral values? ·Are they financially responsible? ·Do your children enjoy their company? ·Is their overall lifestyle compatible with
·Are they physically capable of caring for your children?
yours?