Now is a Good Time to Review Your Child Guardianship in your Will

Back to school season brings fresh routines, new stationery, packed lunches, and busy mornings. It is also a natural moment to pause and think about the systems you have in place to protect your family, not just for today, but for the future. 

One important area that is often overlooked is child guardianship and how it fits into your Will and broader estate planning. While it is not always easy to think about, putting a clear guardianship plan in place can make a meaningful difference for your children when the unexpected happens. 

Below are the key considerations to help you get started, without unnecessary stress. 

1. Why child guardianship matters in estate planning 

As parents or caregivers, you make decisions for your children every day. Education, healthcare, routines, values, and stability are all shaped by you. 

If you were no longer able to make those decisions, they would still need to be made by someone else. Without a named guardian in your Will, courts or authorities may decide who steps in, based on local laws rather than your personal wishes. 

Naming a guardian as part of your Will gives clarity. It allows you to record who you trust to care for your children and uphold the values that matter most to you. It is a core part of responsible Wills and estate planning. 

2. What child guardianship means and how it differs from daily care 

Child guardianship is about long-term decision making. A guardian is usually responsible for major choices such as schooling, medical care, and where a child lives. 

Daily care is different. This covers the practical, everyday responsibilities like meals, school drop-offs, and after-school activities. 

When choosing a guardian, it helps to think beyond convenience. Consider shared values, stability, lifestyle, and the environment you want your children to grow up in. 

3. How to choose a guardian and record your wishes in your Will 

Selecting a guardian should always involve open discussion. It is important to ensure the person you choose is willing and comfortable taking on the role. 

Things to consider include 

• Whether they share your values and approach to raising children 

• Where they are based, especially if family members live in different countries 

• Whether an interim guardian might be needed if arrangements take time to activate 

Once chosen, these wishes should be recorded in your Will. Informal conversations are not enough. Your Will is the document that formally records your intentions and provides guidance when it matters most. 

You may also choose to include a letter of intent. While not legally binding, it can outline preferences around education, location, cultural values, and routines. This can be extremely helpful for guardians stepping into a new role. 

Using a secure Digital Vault to store your Will, guardian details, and supporting documents ensures everything is easy to find when needed. Footprint’s Digital Vault is included with the Will It Package, allowing important information to be stored safely in one place. 

4. Estate planning considerations when supporting children 

Guardianship planning also connects with practical estate planning considerations. 

While a guardian focuses on care decisions, an executor manages how assets and funds are handled according to your Will. These roles often work together. 

Some general considerations include 

• How funds may be used to support education, living costs, and activities 

• How financial responsibilities might be managed while children are minors 

• Whether savings or insurance are intended to support long-term needs 

• How guardians and executors will access key documents and instructions 

These are not financial recommendations. They are practical points that help make sure your intentions are clear and reduce uncertainty for those responsible for carrying them out. 

Footprint’s Will It Package is designed to guide you through these considerations in a clear, structured way, helping you document your wishes as part of a complete wills and estate planning process. 

5. Adding child guardianship to your back-to-school checklist 

Back to school time is about preparation. Reviewing your child guardianship plan fits naturally into this mindset. 

Just as you prepare for the term ahead, reviewing your Will, guardianship choices, and Digital Vault can help make sure your family is prepared for the future. 

Add it to the list alongside school shoes and stationery. It is quiet preparation, but it matters. 

Final thoughts 

Child guardianship planning is about clarity, communication, and recording what matters most to you. 

If you have not reviewed your Will recently, now is a good time to do so. Set aside a few minutes to consider guardianship, practical support, and how your wishes are documented. 

Footprint makes this simple through an easy online Will, combined with a secure Digital Vault to store and protect important documents. 

Because estate planning is not just about assets. It is about people, certainty, and peace of mind. 

Visit Footprint to review your Will, child guardianship arrangements and estate planning documents today.