The Daddy & Family Magazine Winter 2014 Issue #1 | Page 73
Do You Have A Child 17 or Younger?
What YOU MUST Have In Place To Protect Them
With Geoff Hoatson, Attorney
"Who should and could raise Avery if something happened to us?" This was the question hanging between my wife
and me as we sat at our dining room table. I am an estate planning attorney and had helped multimillionaires
minimize their tax obligations, shield their assets from liability, and provide a lifetime of support for their families.
Yet when it came to something as "basic" as naming a guardian for our own daughter, we were stumped. I
thought back to guardianship fights I'd been involved in - nasty court cases which tore families apart and I decided
that we weren't going to do that to our daughter nor our families. There had to be a better way.
We all know the stories of people who pass before their time,
and leave their little ones behind. It happens more frequently
than anyone wants to admit. Yet, sixty-five percent of
Americans have no plan in place if this were to happen to them.
To me, that is unconscionable - we owe it to our children to
ensure that they will be caredthat by people who cared forand
ensure for they will be will love by
people who will love us. Here are some
cherish them if the unthinkable happened toand cherish them if
the unthinkable happened to us.
ways that a protection plan can help to protect as many
children as possible:
Here are some ways that a protection
plan can help to protect as many
children as possible:
65%
of Americans
have no plan in
place to look
after their
children if the
worst happened
to them
designate temporary guardians to
protect your children from the
moment something happens to you
and gives them instruction on what
they are to do.
establish who the permanent guardians will be
establish who the permanent
and, often more importantly, who they will not
be.
lay out instructions to the permanent guardians
for how to best raise your children.
giving both your children's temporary and
permanent guardians vital information about
your children, including medical information
and providers.
allowing you to designate who can make
medical decisions for your children if you can't.
With a children's protection plan, you can give parents
the ability to rest easy, knowing that no matter what
life throws at them, their children will be cared for by
the right people.
If you'd like to learn more about Geoff and Children's
Protection Plans visit www.FamilyFirstFirm.com