You are at a stage of life when you have young children at home. You would do anything and everything for them. Have you considered what would happen to them if you were no longer in the picture? While the vast majority of parents in New Jersey do not want to think about their own incapacitation or death, when you have minor children, planning for what will happen to them if you die or are no longer capable of taking care of them can help prevent issues later — like contested guardianships.
No parent who is actively involved in his or her children’s lives wants to be taken from them while they are still young and growing. It happens, though, all too often. When it does, if there are no directions for where the children should go, the court may give them to the state, or another family member or friend trying to seek guardianship. If you want to have a say in who will raise your children if you cannot, you have to have a plan in place.
What can you do? You can assign a guardian of choice in your estate plan. It is fairly easy to do, and once the assignment is made, courts have to honor your request.
Assigning a guardian can give you a sense of peace and comfort, knowing your children will be in good hands in the event of your death or incapacitation. Contested guardianships can be avoided — unless of course there is concern about the well-being of the children. To learn more about New Jersey laws regarding guardianships and some of their benefits, please take a moment and visit our firm’s website.
