“Did you know that 69% of parents haven’t named guardians for their kids? 

And of the 31% who have, most have made 1 of 6 common mistakes?

Life & Legacy Planning Session with us today, 

so we can fix those mistakes with you.”

~ Debra Spatz

Having a will alone does NOT ensure the care of your kids if the unthinkable happens to you.  If you are a parent of minor children who are counting on you, your estate plan must begin with ensuring your children would always be taken care of by the people you want, in the way you want, no matter what happens.

Without proper planning, this is what could happen:

• Even if you have a will in place or a living trust, the authorities would have no choice but to place your children in the care of strangers until they could figure out what to do.  While it may be temporary, at a time when your children need someone they know and trust, even a short time in the hands of strangers could be devastating.

• Your children could be put in the custody of someone you would never want raising them, like that one family member who has good intentions but you would never want raising your kids.

• A judge who doesn’t know you or your family could end up deciding who will raise your kids, even if it is someone you would never want just because they might look good on paper.

• Your family could get into a long drawn-out custody battle or there could be a challenge to the guardians you have designated.

• Your estate could end up paying court costs and attorney’s fees through a probate process that could take years to settle while your assets are tied up and unable to be used for your children as you intended.

• Your children would receive a check with whatever assets are left when they turn 18, even if they are not mature enough yet, have had no financial training, or are still in school preventing them from receiving financial aid for college.

• Probate court records are public and unscrupulous people can find out when 18-year-olds are getting an inheritance check and can scam your child out of their life savings.

• Many other estate planning attorneys do not address these issues and do not design their client’s plan from a parent’s perspective.