Make a Plan to Keep Your Children Safe
Serving Cary, Durham, Chapel Hill, Raleigh and Surrounding Areas
Making Sure Your Kids Are Always With Someone You Chose
As a parent, you think about your children's safety every day. But most parents avoid one question: who would take care of your kids if you couldn't?
As a mom of three, I understand why. It's a hard question, but answering it is one of the most important things you can do for your kids. We include a Minor Care Plan for all of our clients with young children.
Why Naming a Guardian in Your Will Isn't Enough
Most parents assume that naming a guardian in their will takes care of everything. It's an important step, but it leaves gaps.
A will only takes effect after a court process, and it says nothing about what happens if you're hurt but still living. In the first hours after an emergency, the people you named may not have legal authority to take your children home. If no one with authority can be reached, children can end up in temporary care with people they don't know while things are sorted out.
Minor Care Planning is designed to close those gaps.
What Your Minor Care Plan Includes
Your Minor Care Plan works alongside the long-term guardians you name in your will. It includes:
• Temporary guardianship document: gives the people you choose legal authority to care for your children right away
• Caretaker instructions: what short-term caregivers need to know about your children's routines, needs and care
• Guardianship instructions: your wishes for how your children are raised over the long term
• Consent for health care for a minor: lets the caregivers you choose get your children medical treatment
• Wallet card: tells first responders that you have minor children and who to call
Every Family Is Different
Married, single, divorced, co-parenting, blended. I take time to understand your family, your relationships and how you parent, and we build a plan that reflects that. When we're done, you'll know who will care for your children and that those people will have what they need to do it.
Keeping It Current
Kids grow. The people in your life change. The guardian who was right for your toddler may not be the right choice for your teenager. I check in over the years so your plan keeps up with your family.
Minor Care Planning is part of the estate plans I create for families with children under 18. Schedule a free 15-minute call to talk about yours.
What is a Minor Care Plan?
A Minor Care Plan is a set of instructions, legal documents, and even a wallet card that ensures your young children are cared for by the people you want, in the way you want, if something ever happens to you. It goes far beyond naming a guardian in a will; it gives first responders, loved ones, and the court clear, immediate direction so your kids are never left in limbo, even temporarily.
Isn't naming a guardian in my will enough to protect my kids?
A will alone doesn't act quickly enough in an emergency. If something happens to you (or to you and your spouse) away from home, your will has to be located and read before anyone knows who you've named, and in the meantime, your children could be placed in the temporary care of the state or with whoever a judge decides is appropriate, even if that's not who you would have chosen. A Minor Care Plan is designed to close that gap.
What happens to my kids if something happens to me and I haven't named a guardian?
Without your instructions in place, a judge who doesn't know you, your family, or your wishes will decide who raises your children. That decision can take time, and in the meantime, your kids could end up in the temporary care of the state. It's one of the most important reasons to have a plan in place, so that decision is yours, not a stranger's.
Can I choose different people to raise my children and manage their inheritance?
Yes, and for many families, that's exactly the right approach. The person best suited to raise your children day-to-day isn't always the best person to manage money. A Minor Care Plan lets you separate those roles so each responsibility goes to the person best equipped to handle it.
What happens to my children's inheritance if I pass away while they're still minors?
Without proper planning, your children would typically receive their full inheritance in one lump sum the moment they turn 18, with no guidance and no protection. A Minor Care Plan lets you build in guardrails, like staggered distributions and a trusted trustee, so their inheritance supports them responsibly as they grow, rather than becoming a target for anyone looking to take advantage of a young adult who's suddenly come into money.
How is a Minor Care Plan different from a standard will?
A will is one piece of a much bigger picture. A Minor Care Plan adds the detailed instructions and immediate guidance a will can't provide on its own, so your children are cared for the moment something happens, not just after a will is found and processed. There are several documents and even a wallet card that make up a Minor Care Plan and we include one with every estate plan we prepare for families with young children.
Ready to Protect Your Children?
Schedule your free 15-minute discovery call today—no obligation, just clear steps toward peace of mind.