Return to Main Site Death on the Taconic Parkway
Post By George in Estate Planning - PeopleWhat Philip Larkin observed about people's parents in his most famous poem (viz., that they “mess” you up) is often true of our siblings (and in-laws) in lesser-but-still-material ways. Without the guidance of your valid will, the greatest danger in a probate judge's selection of your child's guardian is not that s/he might miss a great-but-not-obvious choice (e.g., your close friend), but rather that s/he might choose someone from your extended family who presents well but would be a very bad choice indeed. If someone in your orbit has personal issues that make you squeamish at the prospect of their becoming your child's guardian, you can solve the problem definitively (without mentioning the issues or naming names) by specifically nominating someone else (and a back-up) as guardian in your will.