Guardian Designation for Minor Children

You already know who you'd want to raise your children. Have you told the court? Because without this document, they won't ask you.

Every parent has someone in mind — a sister, a mother, a best friend, a partner's sibling — the person they trust completely to raise their children if the unthinkable happened. But "in mind" is not a legal document. And without a legal document, a probate judge makes that decision based on what they can observe: financial stability, proximity, biological relation. Not your values. Not your cultural preferences. Not your knowledge of who truly knows and loves your children. Families have been torn apart by guardianship disputes — relatives who barely knew the child claiming rights, court battles that exhaust resources and traumatize everyone involved. A Guardianship Designation closes that door permanently. It puts the most important decision of your parenting life in writing, in your voice, where it belongs.

WHAT IT IS

A Guardianship Designation Statement of Parental Intent is a legal document in which you name the person — and a backup — you want to serve as guardian for your minor children if both parents die or become incapacitated. But this document goes beyond just naming a person. The "Statement of Parental Intent" component allows you to articulate your values, your cultural wishes, your expectations for your children's upbringing, your spiritual preferences, and anything else that matters to you about how your children are raised. You are not just naming a guardian. You are leaving a blueprint for the continuation of your parenting.

👉🏾 Don’t leave your children’s future in the hands of strangers. Put your choice in writing today.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

• ✅ Guardianship Designation Statement of Parental Intent Template — Names your designated Guardian and Alternate Guardian for your minor children, with space to document your values, wishes, and parenting intent
• ✅ Step-by-Step Completion Guide — Walks you through the nomination process, the conversation to have with your chosen guardian, and all signing requirements
• ✅ Document Checklist — Everything you need before you begin

WHO THIS IS FOR

This document is for you if:

• You have minor children and do not have this document, which means this is the most important thing you will do today
• You are a single parent, and there is no automatic legal default for who raises your children if you're gone
• You have strong cultural, spiritual, or values-based preferences for how your children are raised that a court would have no way of knowing without this document
• You are in a blended family, a non-traditional family structure, or a situation where the legal default would not reflect your actual wishes
• You love your children enough to have the hard conversation now so they never have to live through the harder one later

HOW IT WORKS

1. Purchase & Download — Your template and Completion Guide arrive instantly.
2. Choose Your Guardian — The guide walks you through this decision thoughtfully: the conversation to have with your chosen person, what to consider, how to name an Alternate.
3. Document Your Parental Intent — This is where this document becomes extraordinary. Write your values. Your cultural wishes. Your expectations for education, faith, family connection. Leave your children a record of who you are as their parent.
4. Sign & Witness — Your guide outlines all signing requirements to make your designation legally valid.

THE STAKES

If both parents die without a Guardianship Designation, a probate court decides who raises the children. The court does not know that you wanted your children raised in the church you attended. It does not know that you wanted them to stay in their school, in their neighborhood, near the cousins who are their best friends. It does not know which aunt truly understands your children and which one doesn't. It sees paperwork.

Beyond the court's limitations, the absence of this document invites family conflict at the worst possible time. Relatives may disagree. Legal battles may follow. Your children — already navigating unimaginable loss — may be caught in the middle of adults fighting over them.

This document costs $97 and takes an afternoon to complete. The alternative costs your children everything.

ADD-ONS — PROTECT YOUR CHILDREN COMPLETELY

The Guardianship Designation names who raises them. These documents protect what they'll inherit.

• Personal Property Memorandum Assigns specific personal items — heirlooms, jewelry, meaningful objects — to specific people. Prevents disputes over what belongs to your children. $47
• Legacy Instructions Sheet The complete "Day One" guide for the person stepping into your role — who to call, where to find everything, what your children need. $37
• Digital Asset Access Sheet Ensures their guardian can access your digital accounts, photos, and online assets — the pieces of you your children will want to hold onto. $37

👉🏾 [Add these documents before checkout]

⬆️ THE SMARTER MOVE

If you have children, you need more than just this document.

A Guardianship Designation names who raises them. A Revocable Living Trust protects what they'll inherit. A Will, Financial POA, and Medical POA protect you while you're still here.

The Legacy Essentials Bundle includes all six documents — this one and everything else your family needs — for $547.

This is the one. If you have children and you don't have a complete estate plan, this is the moment.

👉🏾 [View the Legacy Essentials Bundle — $547 →]

"I'm a single mother. My son's father is not in the picture. For years I told myself I'd get to this — get a Will, figure out the guardian thing. Then my cousin died suddenly at 38 with no plan, and I watched what happened to her kids. I had this document done within the week. My sister knows she's named. My son knows who will be there. That peace is worth everything." — Tamika R., Detroit, MI

Your Guardianship Designation Statement of Parental Intent. $97.

What you get:

• Complete Guardianship Designation Statement of Parental Intent template
• Step-by-Step Completion Guide
• Document Checklist
• Instant digital download

No subscription. No attorney fees. No waiting. If you have children and only do one thing today, let it be this.