How can I protect my minor children?

One of the primary goals with estate planning is making sure that your family is taken care of should something happen to you. It is not something that anyone wants to think about or discuss but ensuring that your children will be cared for will provide necessary peace of mind.

Name a guardian for your child. If parents pre-decease a minor child, Florida courts will appoint a guardian for the child based on what the Judge decides to be the best interest of the child. Naming a guardian allows you, the parent, to name your preferred person to serve this role as opposed to relying on a Judge. A valid Florida will with the proper language is all that is needed to name a guardian for a minor child. A probate Judge will honor your wishes unless the individual named is unfit.

Name a health care surrogate for minor children. Creating a designated health care surrogate for a child will allow you to designate someone you trust to make important health care decisions for your minor child should you no longer be in a possession to do so.

Create a trust. As a parent, you can create a trust for your minor child and appoint a trustee to manage the property until the child becomes an adult. Creating a trust allows you to determine exactly when the child may access the funds or direct a trustee to use trust funds for a specific purpose, such as schooling.

For more information, give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to helping!