Children & Kids’ Safeguard Planning

At the Socius Law Firm, we have developed an expertise in planning for the well-being and care of children should the unthinkable happen. We call this advanced legal planning — Kids’ Safeguard Planning.

Kids’ Safeguard Planning is based on the premise that a Will alone is simply not enough to protect minor children should both parents die or become incapacitated.

If you are a parent of minor children, your estate plan needs to include Kids’ Safeguard Planning to ensure your children will always be taken care of by the people you want, in the way you want, and never put in a situation you wouldn’t like.

Without advanced legal planning, unthinkable events can (and do) take place:

• Your children could be placed into the care of the Department of Children & Families…even if you have a Will in place…and even if you have a Living Trust. (Likely this circumstance would be temporary, but during traumatic times, children are always better off with familiar friends or family members as opposed to strangers, no matter how safe and capable).
• Your children could be put into the custody and care of someone you would never choose, such as the one family member who may have good intentions, but you would never want raising your kids.
• A Judge, who doesn’t know you or your family, will decide who will raise your kids, even if it is the last person you would ever choose.
• A long and nasty custody fight could ensue or there might be a challenge to the guardians you have designated.
• Up to 5% of the value of your assets could be lost to court fees and other unnecessary costs through the probate process. Probate can tie up your assets for years and deprive your kids of the resources they need to live comfortably (which can be completely avoided with advanced legal planning).
• When your children reach the age of 18 and receive payment for any remaining assets, unscrupulous people can take advantage of them.

Yes, these things scare us too. That’s why we offer a Kids’ Safeguard Plan with every estate plan we do for families with young children.

Unfortunately, most estate planning attorneys do not thoroughly address kids’ protection nor properly plan from the parent’s perspective.  The Socius Law Firm, however, offers comprehensive Kids’ Safeguard Planning to protect children from the above circumstances with every estate plan we do for families with minor children.

Our Kids’ Safeguard Planning component includes a specific set of instructions, legal documents, as well as an ID card for your wallet. If you are in an accident, your Kids’ Safeguard Plan will help to make sure your children are never taken into the custody of Department of Children & Families or anyone else you would not want. These clear instructions inform the Police and ensure your children will be raised by people you have selected.

Contact us today!