Contact Us
Phone: 720-821-7604
Location
2305 East Arapahoe Road
Suite 223
Centennial, CO 80122
Hours
Call Now To Schedule a Personalized Evaluation: 720-821-7604
We try to keep abreast of estate planning advice that’s given online. Two letters featured in the “Dear Prudence” advice column brought up issues with guardianship.
The first , both heartbreaking and uplifting, concerned a letter writer who had recently been given guardianship over the young children of close friends who had died in a car accident. The new guardian was seeking advice on how to explain death to young children, and how to address potential differences in the religious outlook between the new guardians and the deceased parents.
The second is from the wife of a man whose biological son passed away, leaving him the guardian of his teenage granddaughter. The letter writer is seeking to have the teen move in with her birthmother so that the fun activities they planned for their retirement are not compromised.
These letters dramatically illustrate the difficult issues surrounding the selection of guardians, and the importance of making this selection in a thoughtful way.
While the first letter represents the best of what we hope for when we choose guardians - trustworthy people who want to preserve our values as they raise our kids with love – the second letter represents our deepest fears – putting our kids in a traumatic situation where they are not welcomed or loved as they ought to be.
If you have picked a guardian, or are considering naming one, the following questions should clarify your options:
This list likely could go on much longer, and in all likelihood, you are not going to be able to find anyone who meets all of your criteria. The difficulty of choosing a guardian causes many people to procrastinate. If you don’t make the decision, however, and disaster strikes, the decision is going to have to be made by someone entirely unfamiliar with you and your family.
Don’t forget! This decision needs to be revisited frequently. Friendships fade. People get divorced or move. People age and develop health problems. Again, the list can go on. This is not a “set and forget” decision. You might be surprised, however, at the sense of relief that you feel once you do thoughtfully work your way through this decision and made the best possible choice of guardian for your children.
If you are struggling with this big decision, the McKenzie Firm’s Guardianship Guide may be of help (please contact us for a complimentary copy). It will ask you a series of questions designed to help you evaluate your priorities and rank each potential guardian based on his or her character and suitability.
Contact us now!
By submitting this form, you agree to be contacted by our law firm, either by phone, text or by email.
Disclaimer: The information on this website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute an attorney-client relationship.
© Copyright 2024 | All Rights Reserved | The McKenzie Law Firm, LLC | Powered By Convert It Marketing | Privacy Policy