But even if parents do not take such legal action, the existence of godparents can be legally useful if parents can no longer care for their children. Leanna Hamill, a Massachusetts estate planning attorney, said the court can use the selection of a sponsor to determine parents` wishes regarding guardianship. Many people choose very trustworthy and beloved friends as godparents and might assume that these are the people who would take care of their children if something happened to them. Consultation with a lawyer on the production of official sponsors that you have established through your church. In my experience, I think it is a difficult process to follow legally. I advise you to do it at the beginning, as long as everyone is alive and healthy. And let him already rule through the right channels. When a mother dies or is unable to work, the rights of the child`s father take precedence over the rights of others, including godparents. The father has all and only rights over the child. However, if the mother and father have been separated or divorced and the godparents have played an important role in the child`s life, for example by supervising the child while the mother was working or living with the child, the sponsors may be able to obtain visitation rights if the father refuses them access.

These laws vary from state to state and should be decided by the courts. Now more than ever, we are committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of our loved ones. Arrangements for children and future planning for our children are a natural part of this. As with any important life decision, it`s common to have questions. And there are many things to think about before choosing a sponsor or guardian for your child. You may want to appoint the same person as sponsor and guardian, but to ensure that the person you wish to care for your minor child can do so in the event of death, it is important to legally appoint that person as guardian. If your child`s sponsor is appointed as a legal guardian, that person is part of your child`s life from birth. In case something happens to you, living with the sponsor may not be as traumatic for a transition because your child already knows that person. Here we walk you through some of the most common questions and give tips on how to make someone your child`s guardian and what the differences are between a legal guardian and a sponsor. Today, some parents appoint godparents, even if there is no baptism in church. Godparents, whether religious or not, can serve as role models and help guide children spiritually, emotionally and practically. Most feel honored to be invited to be sponsors.

Sponsors and guardians have different roles. The best way to ensure that parents` guardianship wishes are respected is to explicitly state them in the parents` will. The church said the original purpose of appointing sponsors — to serve as religious mentors for children — has lost its spiritual significance and instead becomes « a networking opportunity for families looking to improve their happiness. » First, the recent revelations about Prince Harry and former Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, insisting on keeping the identities of their two young children secret. Harry`s brother, Prince William, was reportedly « perplexed » by the royal couple`s decision to break with centuries-old traditions, and he`s not alone. When a legal guardian gets parental responsibility, they are responsible for: Mark F. Moss, Esq, a licensed estate planning attorney in Florida (and therefore can only speak with Florida law), says, « Just because someone is a sponsor doesn`t mean they hand the child over to them because there`s no legal relationship. » As parents, in addition to our immediate family, whose children we hope will be under the supervision of others, are the godparents. And they also have a special role, especially when something happens to parents. In the beginning, being a sponsor is sometimes a responsibility entrusted to you. However, there is also one thing that parents sometimes do not consider during the process. These are the legal consequences for children once the process is complete.

This does not mean that if something happens to the parent, the sponsor will replace him. Has the appointment of a sponsor for one`s own child become the same as the appointment of a legal guardian? The answer is no. If something happens to both parents and no guardian is named in a will, the child becomes a ward of the state until custody is established. In some cases, the child may be placed temporarily with a family member. Any family member or close friend, including godparents, can apply for custody of the child. The court reviews the relationship between the child and the sponsors and makes a decision based on the best interests of the child. In most cases, this means that the child stays with a family member. Whether or not you choose a sponsor for your children (and whether or not you appoint your sponsor as your children`s legal guardian), the most important thing is to prepare for the future – now. Second, there are recent reports that Catholic leaders in Sicily are also ordering breaks with the long tradition of naming godparents. Starting this month, the Catholic diocese of Catania banned for three years the old tradition of naming godparents at baptisms.

You can do this in your will or (less often) by means of a separate official document. It is important to seek legal advice before legally appointing a guardian to make sure you understand how the appointment will work, as this may vary depending on your situation, i.e. Who has parental responsibility for the children, if you are married, single, divorced, if you want to set conditions for the appointment of the guardian and if you want to appoint a substitute guardian, etc. It is also important to ensure that the document is executed correctly so that the appointment is valid. Often, godparents do not change during a child`s life. On the other hand, legal guardians can change. Sometimes parents do not name guardianship of their children in a will because they cannot choose a guardian. This is usually not a problem, as you can change your will several times in your life and change the names of legal guardians. As personal circumstances change and families move and grow, guardians may need to change. When a couple decides to baptize their child in church, they choose godparents who promise to raise the child in faith. Some people have the impression that those who are named godparents automatically get custody if something happens to the child`s parents.

However, from a legal point of view, godparents have no more rights than any other friend or family member. Guardians have no legal rights as long as both parents are alive. However, if one of the parents died, he or she would have the possibility of assuming parental responsibility for the child even if the other parent was still alive. Traditionally, godparents in the Christian faith are part of the baptismal ministry and are committed to being responsible for the religious education and spiritual development of the child throughout his or her life. Godparents have always been given a special role in the child`s life and are usually close friends or family members. Moss suggests discussing these commitments, including talking to the other guardian if you`ve appointed one to care for your child and another to oversee finances. Make your wishes clear and make sure the guardian has contact details for all parties involved. We even wrote a guide for the guardian talk. This usually happens in children in the event of the death or disability of their parents. Well, a godfather that most people received through a religious ceremony. Usually by church or whatever religious ceremony you have. The children are Christians, then the godparents are present and present at the ceremony.

They become godparents. I think a lot of people don`t even think about parents.