Having A Will Does Not Protect Your Kids If the Unthinkable Happens to You!
If you are a family with young children, then your estate plan should begin with a foundation that ensures your children would always be taken care of, no matter what happens.
At Morgan Law Group, one of our areas of greatest expertise is protecting minor children.
Without proper planning, if the unthinkable happens to you, here’s what could happen:
- Your children could be placed into Child Protective Services (CPS) even if you have a will in place; even if you have a living trust.
- A judge who doesn’t know you, or your family, will decide who will raise your kids, even if it’s the last person you would ever want;
- There could be a custody battle if you haven’t been clear or if there should be a challenge to the guardians you have designated;
- About 5% of the value of your assets could be lost due to probate, a court process that can tie up your assets for years and deprive your kids of the resources they need to live comfortably;
- When your kids turn 18, they get a check for whatever assets are left;
- There are unscrupulous people out there who make it their business to look at the public records to find out when 18 year olds are getting that inheritance check;
- The vast majority of estate planning attorneys do not address these issues, and do not plan from a parent's perspective.
Yes, these things scare us too. That’s why we offer a Kids Care Plan with every estate plan we do for families with young children.
What is a Kids Care Plan?
A Kids Care Plan is a set of instructions, legal documents and even an ID card for your wallet, which you need to have if you have kids at home who count on you for their well-being and care.
If you are in an accident, your Kids Care Plan will make sure your children are never taken into the custody of Child Protective Services because the police don't have clear instructions from you and that your children are raised by people you choose, not someone chosen by the State.
To get started with protecting your children no matter what, contact us.
