What will happen to my child if I die without making guardianship designations?

One of the most frequent questions that I get in estate planning is - what will happen to my child if I die without making guardianship designations?

First of all, some folks worry that without guardianship designations, their child will go “to the state” or end up in stranger foster care. This is highly unlikely! Both the federal and the state law put a strong preference on placing children with family. If there are fit and willing relatives available, a judge is not likely to place your child with strangers.

But what a judge will also not do is get to know your child and your family well enough to make a decision as well as you can. When you leave guardianship designations, you are leaving a roadmap for the court. Learn more by watching the video below.