Thinking about your children

The worst-case scenario, if you are in an accident, is that your kids get taken into the care of strangers, or someone you wouldn’t want, even for a short while. If something happens to you, you want the peace of mind of knowing they are with someone you chose, and that your kids know, love and trust. Naming godparents, or even having a will alone, won’t do it.

You need a Kids Protection Plan to ensure your kids are raised by the people you want, in the way you want, and never taken into the care of strangers, or anyone you wouldn’t want caring for them.

Kids Protection Plan

A will alone won’t cover the care of your kids.

Even if you have a will, and even if you have named legal guardians in your will, that’s not going to keep your kids out of the care of strangers if you are in an accident. I know, it may be a shocker, especially if you’ve worked with a lawyer. It was to our founder, Ali Katz, too. That’s why she created the Kids Protection Plan.

Naming godparents won’t keep your kids in the care of people you want.

Naming godparents is great, and we recommend you do it because every kid needs mentors and guides on their side. But, that’s not going to ensure your godparents can take custody of your kids, even temporarily, if you are in an accident. Godparents do not have legal standing in front of a court or with authorities to take care of your kids.

The 6 mistakes most parents (and their lawyers) make when naming guardians.

1) Named a couple to act as guardians when you don’t really want both people in the couple and you haven’t said what should happen if the couple broke up or one of the partners in the couple died.

2) Only named one possible guardian. What if something happens to your first choice?

3) Have not considered financial resources when deciding who should raise your children. Your guardians do not have to (and often should not) be financial decision-makers for your kids.

4) Only have a Will, which means the Court will distribute your money; it’s totally public and doesn’t protect your money from divorce and lawsuits.

5) Did not exclude anyone who might challenge your guardian’s decisions or who you know you’d never want to care for your kids.

6) Only named guardians for the long-term and did not make any arrangements for the short term if you were in an accident. What would happen in those immediate hours until your permanent guardians could arrive?