Are you ready to hit the road without your kids? Taking a trip without the kids sounds like a dream come true, but before you start packing, make sure you have a plan in place if something happens to you or your kids. In this blog article, I’ll give you some tips you need to make sure your travels are stress-free and enjoyable, so you can make the most of an adult-only adventure!
Regardless of who will be taking care of your kids while you’re away, you’ll need a Designation of Health Care Surrogate for minors. Through a Designation of Health Care Surrogate for Minors you pick someone to make medical decisions for your kids when you can’t. Whoever is taking care of your kids needs this in case they have to take your kids to the doctor or hospital. Without this document, a doctor might hesitate to treat your kids without consulting you first. What if they can’t reach you? This document lets them know it’s okay to rely on whoever you’ve named to make these time-sensitive medical decisions.
Before you go, make sure your guardianship nomination is taken care of. A guardianship nomination means you can relax knowing your children will be cared for by the people you trust the most. This important part of estate planning names someone you know and trust to care for your kids if case something happens to you. This is an important decision and you shouldn’t leave it to chance. If you don’t make the decision the legal system steps in and decides for you. If you’re having trouble coming up with a guardianship candidate check out this article for some help: 5 Things to Think About When You’re Picking a Guardian For Your Kids.
Finally, don’t forget to have a Trust in place before you go. Without a Trust, your assets will be distributed according to the intestate laws of your state, which may not be what you would want. But a Trust does more than divide your assets. Did you know in Florida minors can’t inherit? A Trust lets you name someone to administer what you leave your kids until they’re old enough to do it themselves. Your kids can reap the benefits of everything you’ve worked for because you’ve named an adult you trust to administer it according to your instructions. Check out this article to learn about other benefits of a trust: 5 Things you Need to Know About Revocable Living Trusts.
There you have it! Before you go on your next adult-only adventure, make sure you have the proper documents in place. With a little bit of planning, you can relax and enjoy your trip, knowing that your kids are taken care of. Need help getting your documents in order before you go on your next big adventure? I can help! Schedule a complementary initial consultation with me at [email protected] or www.igslegal.com.
