The single most important thing that a single parent can do to protect his or her child’s future is to execute a will. Although we want to think that we will be around for our children, it is important to choose a guardian for them in the event of our demise.
The subject came up for me when my son was only a few months old. A discussion developed due to a family member being mentally unstable. I told my family that I wanted to make sure that my son would never be placed in the care of an unstable caregiver. They advised me that I should execute a will as soon as possible.
In my case, it is probably more important than for some families because my son’s father does not want to be in his life. In the case of the death of a parent, the child almost always goes to the other biological parent.
Because my son’s father would not be an option, I had to take precautions so that my son would be cared for by the family members that I trust. I had to choose a guardian. It is also wise to choose an alternate guardian. In the event that the first guardian cannot accept custody, the second guardian would be chosen.
Many people mistakenly believe that a will isn’t necessary unless you have a lot of money. If you have children, this couldn’t be further from the truth. A will is necessary to make sure that your children are cared for by the person you believe is best suited to raise them in your absence.
For me, it is important that the guardian listed in my will raise my child in the same manner that I would. It is essential that they tell him about me, help him to remember me and keep my memory alive for him. I have written letters to my son in his baby book and dated each one. In each letter, it tells him how important he is to me and how much I love him. This is something he would have if I were to die before he becomes an adult.
I don’t like to talk about death. I don’t want to think that I may die before my son is grown. It isn’t a pleasant thought for any of us. It is, however, the responsible thing to do. I made my will to clearly state my choice regarding his guardians.
One thing is for certain, I do not have money or assets that would require me to have a will. The only reason that I have it is for the sake of my son. I want to do anything and everything that I can to look out for him. After all, don’t we all want what is best for our children?
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