As summer winds down and the smell of sharpened pencils and fresh notebooks fills the air, parents everywhere are busy checking off school supply lists and prepping for a successful academic year. But amid the hustle of back-to-school shopping and final summer getaways, there’s one essential item that should be at the top of every parent’s checklist: legal documents that protect your kids in case something happens to you.
Why Naming Legal Guardians Is More Important Than Ever
Whether your child is starting kindergarten or heading off to college, one of the most important things you can do as a parent is ensure someone you trust can step in to care for your child if you’re ever unable to.
Kids spend most of their days at school, practice, or with babysitters—people who do not have any legal authority to care for them long-term. If you’re in an accident or can’t be reached, your child could be left in the hands of social services or even placed in foster care temporarily while the court decides who should step in. Worse still, that decision could be made without knowing your wishes or considering your child’s emotional needs.
Don’t Rely on Informal Agreements
You may assume a family member or close friend would naturally take over care if something happened to you. But without legal documentation, these “unofficial” arrangements carry no weight in court. This can lead to confusion, conflict among family members, or your child ending up with someone you’d never choose.
We’ve seen it happen: children placed with unfamiliar foster families or relatives battling in court over who should take custody—all because their parents hadn’t taken the time to name legal guardians.
Even more common is the court appointing someone based on what seems logical, without any understanding of your family’s dynamics or your parenting values.
The Kids Protection Plan®: Peace of Mind for Every Parent
At Packsaddle Law PLLC, we offer a Kids Protection Plan® designed to ensure your children are always cared for by the people you trust, in the way you want, no matter what.
Here’s what’s included:
- Short-term guardianship documents so someone you trust can care for your child immediately in an emergency.
- Long-term guardianship designations to ensure your child is raised by the person you choose.
- Excluded guardians so that a court will consider who you do NOT want caring for your children.
- Medical Power of Attorney so someone you trust can make medical decisions for your child if you cannot.
- Emergency ID cards for your wallet with instructions for first responders to contact your chosen guardians.
- Healthcare Information like your insurance plan numbers, the name of your child’s dentist, allergies, so that the babysitters, teachers, or nannies, so everyone knows exactly what to do.
- Detailed instructions for caregivers like babysitters, teachers, or nannies, so everyone knows exactly what to do.
These steps go far beyond naming a guardian in your will. They create a comprehensive safety net so your children are never caught in limbo and always surrounded by love and support—even if you’re not there.
Let’s Make This the Year You Check This Off Your List
As your Personal Family Lawyer® firm, we’re here to make this process simple, thoughtful, and tailored to your unique family. As the back-to-school season approaches, don’t overlook this essential homework for parents – naming legal guardians and creating your own Kids Protection Plan®.
The first step is to go through our unique planning process to choose the right plan for you, your kids and everyone you love. We begin with a Life & Legacy Planning Session™. During the session, I get to know your family on a personal level to understand your family dynamics and your assets. I’ll share the law with you, and together we’ll look at exactly what would happen to your assets and your loved ones if something happened to you right now.
From there, we choose the right plan for you – at the right budget and that achieves your personal objectives – based on the specifics of your family situation. This ensures your kids and family are cared for and protected no matter what happens, so you can embrace the excitement of this new academic year with peace of mind.
This content is sourced from Personal Family Lawyer® for use by Personal Family Lawyer firms and modified by Packsaddle Law PLLC. This material was created for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as ERISA, tax, legal, or investment advice. If you are seeking legal advice specific to your needs, consult a qualified professional.