03 Jul 7 Tips for Choosing a Legal Guardian for Your Child

Part of parenting is making plans. From scheduling play dates to setting up a college savings fund, you meticulously make plans to ensure your child is well cared for on their journey to adulthood. Of course, you plan to be there for every milestone, but what if the unthinkable happens and you and your spouse become incapacitated or die? Have you made plans for who will step in and raise your child if you’re gone? The best way to prepare for this type of situation is to designate a legal guardian. A legal guardian is a person who makes legal, medical, and financial decisions for a ward. Read on to discover seven tips for choosing a legal guardian for your child, whether it’s choosing the right lawyers for legal guardianship or choosing the right person to be your child’s legal guardian.

1. Expect to feel disappointed.

You probably have high expectations and standards when it comes to whom you want in charge of your child’s future and physical and emotional well-being. Of course no one is going to be able to meet all of your expectations, which is disappointing. However, you need to accept your disappointment in order to move on and choose the person who is going to be the best fit.

2. Consider all of your options.

Choosing someone to entrust your child with is a big job. It’s best to consider all of your options. Make a list then narrow it down to your top candidates before weighing the pros and cons of each person.

3. Decide what values matter most to you.

Is it important to you that your child is raised within a certain religion? Do you want your child to grow up and appreciate the value of hard work? You and your spouse have probably planned how to raise your child in an environment reflective of your own values. For this reason, it’s important that you choose a guardian whose values and parenting style are similar to your own.

4. Age is a factor.

When considering possible legal guardian candidates for your child, it is important to remember that age does, in fact, count as a factor. A legal guardian should be someone who is young enough to see their job as guardian all the way through. Health plays a role as well since it’s important that the person you choose is able to take care of themselves as well as your child.

5. Financial stability matters.

Raising a child costs money. Would suddenly becoming responsible for your child place a financial burden on the legal guardian? If the answer is yes, it’s probably best to go back to your list and consider another candidate.

6. Location, location, location

The location of the legal guardian you choose is important to consider as well. If the legal guardian you choose lives out of state, your child may have to move and experience a rougher transition because on top of losing you, they could lose contact with friends and family members within the community they grew up in.

7. Is your legal guardian willing to accept the responsibility?

Finally, one of the most important steps to choosing a legal guardian is communicating with the guardian. It is important to ask your choice of guardian if they are willing to take on the responsibility. Hopefully they will say yes, but if they do not, you will have time to find a new guardian who is willing.