Where are your children right now?
At school? Day care? With a babysitter or family member? Perhaps they are with you.
Now consider one difficult question:
What would happen if you could not pick them up—or if an emergency occurred while you were alone with them?
If both parents were unavailable, who would be called? If you are a single parent, who would know that your child needed help?
An emergency contact is a good start, but it may not be a complete plan. Consider:
- Who is authorised to collect your child?
- Who could care for your child overnight or for several days?
- Who knows about medications, allergies, routines, and emotional needs?
- Who could quickly access your home and essential information?
- Who should care for your child permanently if you could not?
Temporary and permanent care may involve different people. A nearby relative may be best suited to respond immediately, while another trusted person may be your preferred permanent guardian. In Florida, a parent may formally nominate a guardian, although the court retains authority to determine guardianship based on applicable law and the child’s best interests.
A When You Can’t Be There plan can bring these decisions together. It may identify:
- Immediate caregivers authorised to collect your child;
- Temporary guardians who can provide short-term care;
- Preferred permanent guardians;
- Medical, educational, and emergency information; and
- Guidance about routines, relationships, values, and other matters important to your child’s upbringing.
The goal is not to anticipate every possibility. It is to ensure that trusted people know what to do and that your child is not left with unfamiliar caregivers while others search for answers.
Start with one question:
If you could not care for your child today, who would step in—and would that person know what to do?
Planning for that possibility is not expecting the worst. It is another way of caring for your child.
Schedule an Estate Planning Clarity Session, here, and let’s find out where you stand.
