When you started having children, the last thing you probably thought about was setting up a Family Estate plan.
We do not like to be forced to think about a time when we may not be able to take care of children.
However, the sad reality is that for some, it does happen.
Setting up a Family Estate plan, no matter what stage of parenting you are in, is a vital part of being a prepared parent.
Why It Is Important to Set Up a Family Estate Plan
If something should happen that causes you to be unable to care for children and you do not have a Family Estate plan set up, a judge will be the one who gets to decide where your children go.
There may be a family member that you do not want raising your children. There may be a family friend that you trust and know will raise your child the way you want.
A judge will not know this, and your child may end up with someone who does not want the same things as you.
Another reason to set up a Family Estate plan is so that any money or assets you have can go to the guardian you choose to take care of your children. These assets can pay for education, necessities, etc.
If you leave it up to a judge, your assets and money may be tied up while the judge decides what to do with it.
How You Set Up a Family Estate Plan
Setting up a Family Estate plan can be done either on your own with templates you can find online, or you can hire an estate planning attorney to help you.
Set up a Family Estate Plan Online
There are some places online that you can print out a template to help you name a guardian for your child. These are good if you are taking a trip without your child and decided last minute to name someone to care for them in case of an emergency.
Your best option: This website will help you choose a guardian and will create a document naming your legal guardian.
Estate Planning Attorney
Directly contact an estate planning attorney that specializes in working with young families. You will find that many estate planning attorneys tailor their services to end of life support.
We focus on young families and those who are determined to get ahead on estate planning. Regardless of whom you choose to work with, the benefit of having a consult with an attorney for your Family Estate plan is that you can ask questions, get answers, and tailor your plan to your specific needs and situation.
We can help you create a plan that works for you and your family. We will sit down with you and go over each aspect of a Family Estate plan and make sure you are comfortable with it before you leave.
The most important part of a Family Estate plan is that you feel like everything will be ok if you ever need to use the plan we created with you.
If you live in or near Spokane and would like to set up a Family Estate plan, contact us today!