How do I appoint a guardian for my child?

On Behalf of | Jan 27, 2023 | Estate Planning

As a parent, your primary responsibility is to secure your child’s health and well-being. And most parents take this responsibility very seriously. However, there is one aspect that most parents overlook: appointing a legal guardian for their child.

Basically, a legal guardian is a person you designate to assume your minor child’s parental responsibilities should something happen to you and the other parent. So how do you appoint a guardian for your minor child?

Here are two helpful steps that can help you find the right guardian for your child.

Exploring the guardianship criteria

The individual you appoint as your child’s guardian will be responsible for their overall health and well-being should you die or become incapacitated. For this reason, it is important that you talk to the other parent or anyone you would want to involve while making this decision. Here are some of the concerns you might raise while searching for a guardian for your child:

  • What kind of religious beliefs, morals and education would you want the prospective guardian to instill in your child?
  • How do you want your child’s health to be managed? Do they have a specific dietary requirement?

Identifying potential guardian candidates before finalizing your decisions

You probably have a couple of potential guardianship candidates in mind. These can be family or close friends. Now is the time to rank them based on your preferences. If you are making this decision jointly with the other parent, you might consider coming up with separate lists and comparing the afterward. Did you have the same people in mind? That makes things a little bit easy. However, if they were different, then you might want to reevaluate each candidate more closely. Some of the factors you want to consider during this evaluation include:

  • Their physical and financial ability to care for your child
  • Their current relationship with your child
  • Their location

Designating a guardian for your child might seem morbid. However, the whole essence of appointing a guardian for your little one is hoping for the best while prepping for the worst.