Did you know that 69% of parents have yet to name guardians for their kids? And, of the 31% who have, most have made one of 6 common mistakes?

HAVING A WILL ALONE SIMPLY DOES NOT ENSURE THE CARE OF YOUR KIDS IF THE UNTHINKABLE HAPPENS TO YOU

If you are a parent of minor children (or those with special needs) who are counting on you, your estate plan must begin with ensuring your children would always be taken care of by the people you want, in the way you want, no matter what.

At Dotchin Law, one of our areas of greatest expertise is planning for the well-being and care of the children you love.

WITHOUT PROPER PLANNING, IF THE UNTHINKABLE HAPPENS TO YOU, HERE’S WHAT COULD HAPPEN:

• Your children could be placed into child protective services even if you have a will in place and even if you have a living trust until your legal documents are located or family is identified. Or worse, your kids could be left in the care of the one person in your family you would never want raising them.

• A judge who doesn’t know you or your family will decide who will raise your kids, even if it’s the last person you would ever want.

• Approximately 5-10% of the total value of your assets could be lost due to probate, which is a court process that can tie your assets up for months or years, depriving your kids of the resources needed to live comfortably.

• When your kids turn 18, they get a check for whatever assets are left without any protection. There are people who make it their business to review public records to find out what 18 year olds are coming into money.

The vast majority of estate planning attorneys simply do not address these issues and do not plan from a parent’s perspective.

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

WHAT IS A PROTECTION PLAN?

A Protection Plan is a set of instructions, legal documents, and even an ID card for your wallet, which you need to have if you have kids at home who count on you for their well-being and care.

If you are in an accident, your Protection Plan will make sure your children are never taken into the custody of child protective services, strangers, or the care of anyone you wouldn’t want. The authorities would have clear instructions from you. And, your Protection Plan will ensure your children are raised by the people you choose instead of being chosen by a judge who doesn’t know you.

To get started with your Protection Plan, simply call us or schedule your Planning Session using the button below.