Appointing a guardian for your child requires careful consideration. It should be someone you absolutely trust and know will take full responsibility for your child. They should be emotionally stable and physically able. You may want this person to share your religious values.
A guardian is usually a relative, an adult sibling, or a grandparent. Grandparents are often an excellent choice, but it may also be a good idea to include younger individuals as backup guardians.
Anyone who is a minor, incompetent, has filed for bankruptcy in the last seven years, or has committed a crime should not be appointed as a guardian.
Yes. It is a good idea to revisit the document every few years to confirm if everything stated still applies. For example, if the guardian had two children of their own at the time of creating the document but now has four or five, you might want to appoint a new guardian.
People change. The guardians that you appoint today may not remain the same people in the future, so it can be crucial to revisit the choice if there is a need for it.
If an individual has parental responsibilities for their stepchildren, they can appoint a guardian for them. That said, if one partner has not appointed the other as a guardian, the court might appoint a new guardian if something happens to the children's parent.
It is important to remember that a guardian cares for the children if they have no surviving parents. If the father or the mother of your stepchildren is still alive, they usually have guardianship.
Generally, most people choose one individual to act as a guardian. If the guardian is married, the document might include the names of both spouses. On the other hand, some people appoint three guardians, such as grandparents and a relative. In that event, the court will decide on the guardian most fit to take care of the children.
Children over 14 could even be allowed to state their preference for the court to take into account. Alternatively, parents may decide that they want the guardians to share responsibilities and act as co-guardians.