Creating a Will

God parents are not legally binding at all. That is an relationship between them, your child and their faith. It is important to ask your potential guardians if they are actually willing to raise your children if you are to pass before your kids are legal adults. Its also important to tell your guardians that should you deem them unfit at any time (relationship between you and them falls apart, a deal breaker issue arises like addiction) that you reserve the right to change and they also have the right to say no or back out at any time.

We chose my BIL and SIL as guardians for a few complicated reasons. One our son is born Canadian but has American family as well so it only makes sense for him to be raised by his Canadian family in Canada. So that eliminates my side entirely. My other BIL is not in a place right now to raise a child so that leaves BIL and SIL.

However, BIL is the ONLY guardian stated in the will. This is to protect Maxim if my BIL and SIL should ever divorce. This way, SIL cant claim anything financially or in a custody dispute. We trust our SIL to raise him but we still account for this possibility. Also we expect that DH's brother will raise our children in a similar manner and they also know it is very important that our children know my family as well.

Also our financial guardian/executor is a completely separate person as well. This is to protect our estate and Maxim's interests from . It is clear in the will that 1/3 of the estate will go to BIL for the sole purpose to offset the costs of raising Maxim. The rest will go to Maxim in increments at appropriate ages. This way, our money isnt being used to raise BIL's kids or for other potentially nefarious dealings but is for our children.

I need to draw up the documents, but I picked my old neighbor. I love her like a sister and they adopted their oldest son. They planned to adopt another but he deployed. They were doing an open adoption too so I know they would make sure that my son would know all his family. My sister was hurt about this. The next person I would chose is one of my stepsons. The youngest would be my first choice based on how he chooses things in his life. I wouldn't chose my sister because she already has 3 kids and doesn't live in a very diverse area. Its a hard decision!!