Irrespective of gender, a single parent must take on the roles of mother and father even if custody is shared with the other parent. If the single parent loses his or her life, stress on a child can be severe, and there’s a chance the child may end up in a foster home. Below are several important facts for a single parent to know about an Estate Planning Attorney in Rockford, Il.
Emergency Planning for the Children
Single parents should assemble a list of numbers and names of people who can pick up the children if something happens. These names should be on file with the children’s schools or daycare centers and, perhaps, in the parent’s wallet, phone, or glove compartment. An Estate Planning Attorney can help parents prepare these documents, but parents can simply put their wishes in writing.
Emergency Planning for Self-Care
If a parent is in a serious accident and needs someone to make medical decisions on their behalf, they should have a living will or advance directive designating who will do so. Most people do not know that the HIPAA law prevents doctors from discussing a patient’s medical condition without permission. This could prevent family and friends from getting the information needed to make decisions and failing to have a living will or an advance directive will leave everyone not knowing what to do.
Choose a Guardian
Every jurisdiction has laws stating that the other parent has sole guardianship rights in the event of a custodial parent’s death unless there has been a termination of parental rights. However, the right is not automatic, and judges typically follow a person’s wishes as written in a will. The courts do not have time to choose a guardian, and CPS typically will do nothing more than place the children in foster care. Therefore, it is very important for single parents to name a guardian for their children.
Estate planning lawyers can add a significant amount of value to this process, and they can prevent parents form making expensive mistakes. Attorneys stay updated on the law to ensure that wills and documents are drafted effectively and in a way that meets the client’s needs. Forming a relationship with an Estate Planning Attorney like Crosby Law Firm can allow a single parent to have someone to turn to for help when they’re making some of life’s most important decisions.
