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