One of the last things that a parent in Washington State wants to imagine is not being there to raise their children. While statistically, most parents will live to see their kids graduate high school and go into their adulthood, there are plenty of situations in which this does not happen. Whether due to an accident or an illness, some of the time parents will die while their children are still young. If both parents die prematurely, it is then important that they had previously outlined who would raise their children on their behalf.
Parenting magazine recommends that people stop before rushing into the all-too-common popularity content pick that becomes very political very fast. Arguments among grandparents, aunts, uncles and siblings can start before one knows it. Instead, the best first step in selecting a guardian is to make a detailed list of what qualities parents want from a guardian. This should be done picturing their children at different stages of development to evaluate a range of situations.
From there, a list of candidates that match the criteria can be made. Next up is the task of deciding who is really able to do the job and then who actually is willing to do so. Once a decision has been made, it is best to tell everyone about it so there are no surprises if it is ever needed.
Forbes adds that reviewing a guardianship decision every few years is wise so that the choice remains current and appropriate for where a child’s life and the guardian’s life is at.
