Got Children? You Need a Testamentary Guardianship in Your Delaware Estate Plan

It’s uncomfortable. It’s emotional. But, it’s necessary.

(No, we’re not talking about divorce today).

A testamentary guardianship is a must have if you are the parent of a young child and are ready to get started on your Delaware estate plan. As we will discuss further below, this necessary component of your will directs what will happen with your children if the unthinkable happens and they are left without one or both parents. The stronger, and more specific, the testamentary guardianship – the better. Once you are ready to get started, contact Stephanie Reid Law right away for assistance with this responsible and realistic element to your Delaware estate plan.

Directing the upbringing of your children

The best starting point when deciding on the terms of your testamentary guardianship is making a choice about who should be appointed guardian(s) of your child upon your demise. If you are confident in the parenting skills of your co-parent, you may decide that you do not need to appoint a guardian to replace you. However, we always recommend including guardianship language in your Delaware estate plan to address the situation where both you and your child’s other parent pass away at the same time.

Choosing a guardian is never easy, and it can sometimes lead to a stressful, painful discussion with your co-parent. However, making a choice is necessary, and we suggest the following factors to consider when weighing your options:

• Age and Availability: The guardian of your child should be someone who is able and available to fulfill the role of a full-time parent. Someone with strenuous work commitments, significant health issues or who is of an advanced age may be overly burdened by the task, and your child could suffer as a result.
• Suitability: We all love wild Aunt Jo, and she may be your closest friend in the world. But will she make a good parental figure – particularly in the aftermath of a devastating loss? When deciding on your child’s guardian, aim to pick someone with a stable routine, a clean history and, above all else, the willingness to accept the responsibility.
• Current Relationship: Does your child have a good relationship with the proposed guardian? Does your child get along with the guardian’s family and children? These are important considerations when deciding if your child will be a good fit in the family.
• Child’s Wishes: If your child is old enough, and you feel comfortable approaching the topic, it may be wise to discuss your child’s wishes in the event the unthinkable occurs.

Arrange for your child’s upbringing with a testamentary guardianship.

What to include in your Delaware estate plan

In addition to choosing a proper guardian for your child, your Delaware estate plan should also include language articulating your wishes with regard to the upbringing of your child. One important directive is to establish a trust for the benefit of your child from the proceeds of his or her inheritance. Along with establishing a trust, you must also name a trustee to oversee and manage the inheritance corpus for the benefit of your child. This trustee can be the same person as the guardian, a different person, or an institutional trustee (i.e., a bank or financial institution).

From there, the possibilities are endless. If you have unrelenting faith in the abilities of your named guardian to raise your child, you may not need to include any additional information. However, if you have certain steadfast values and principles you would like upheld following your death, be sure to include these in your testamentary guardianship. For example, it is not uncommon for parents to place conditions on the receipt of any inheritance held in trust such as graduating from college.

Contact Stephanie Reid Law today about your Delaware estate plan

Testamentary trusts may be difficult to discuss, but the inter-family tension that can occur in the absence of a clear, delineated guardianship plan can cause unrelenting stress and turmoil for your child. If you are ready to discuss adding or creating a testamentary guardianship as part of your Delaware estate plan, contact us today!