If you have children or are planning to have a child at any time, having a will is a good idea. If for only one reason, it is because you can designate who will take care of your child, if something were to happen to you and your spouse. Young parents, in particular, may have a hard time accepting the fact that they need a will. Understandably, you believe yourself to be in marginally good health, so what is there to worry about? Probably nothing, but can you take the chance?
Just answer these five questions to help you decide who you and your spouse agree would be the best guardian for your child. It will be done before you know it, and you can lay it to rest.
Who comes to your mind? Perhaps someone in your family, like parents, brothers, or sisters. If you do not think a family member is who you would choose, don't sweat it. Remember, you have to feel comfortable about the person you decide upon, and that is really the only thing that matters. Do you have a close friend that might be perfect for the job?
Do they have the same values as yours? You want someone who shares your religious beliefs, as well as your educational philosophies. This will make it an easier transition for your child not to have to adapt to a whole new way of thinking, on top of living with new people. Just take a look at how potential guardians are raising their own children, if they have any.
How is their health? It is important to take this into consideration when deciding on a guardian. You will want someone who is in good health both mentally and physically. The last thing you want is to place your child in someone's care, only for their health to fail and have to be moved around again. Perhaps someone younger in age would be the best option.
Do they have the capability to take on a child? The person you select must be able to take on a child. Do they have room for a child? Will your child be given equal rights in this new family environment? Hopefully you have already invested in your child's future through life insurance. This money should allow your child to be financially self-sufficient for quite a while. But, if there is no life insurance, you will need to choose someone who has money to care for your child.
Do they live near you? Moving a child who has just lost one or both parents has a lot to deal with. Moving this child far away from their home and away from their established friends can be doubly traumatic for him. While this is not the most important factor in choosing a guardian, if it comes down to just a few prospects, this could be thing that helps you decide for sure.
Once you have your decision, you then need to talk with this person and be sure that they will take on the responsibility of being your child's guardian. If you gave thoughtful answers to the questions above, your chance of them accepting is greater. Don't expect them to jump for joy right away. Give them time to think it over and talk it out with their family. When it is final, get it writing. Then you can put it away, and, hopefully, never have to worry about it again. But, your mind will have peace knowing that you did the right thing.
