It's mustard after the meal as they say. At least with us. This week my teenager turned 17 and the subject of 'arranging a guardian for your child' may no longer be applicable to us. But of course I'm not just writing this article for myself. Also for you. Hence the key question. Have you already arranged custody for your child? And if not, when did you plan to start?
This article is intended as a kind of wake-up call for those who have not yet arranged a guardian for their child. Because even though we prefer not to think about it, it could just be that the situation arises that you can no longer take care of your child. For example, because you and your partner die. Or because you have been (temporarily) removed from parental authority for whatever reason.
One records everything neatly from the start, the other is a lot easier in this. Or more lax, whatever you call it. In our case, it was about the latter, just never taking the time to record things like this. Arranging a guardian for your child is not the first thing I thought of when our oldest was born. While you simply do not know what you will get. We did have funeral insurance, but a guardian? No, not applicable. At least that's how we thought about it at the time. Or rather how we didn't think about it, it was a 'far from our bed' show.
Quite strange actually that 'far from our bed show' thought. Especially in our case because Luc was born at 33 weeks. Much too early and that means that you actually play everything it safe. Why not with regard to ourselves and arranging and establishing a guardian for our child?
We did discuss the subject at the time, by the way, and also short-circuited with my brother, whom I would have liked to see as a guardian. But nothing ever came of it. And that is horribly stupid, because as long as nothing is on paper, anything can happen.
Because even if you have discussed it, if nothing is fixed, everyone can 'claim' to guardianship and the judge will decide what happens. Children from the age of 12 are then heard by the court, but that does not mean that what the child wants is also done. Not even when they're 17, like Luc is now.
Arranging a guardian for your child is also a piece of cake, did you know that? You no longer have to go to the notary for this, but can simply arrange this online via registration in the authority register. By making this registration, it is in any case established who you designate as guardian. And it's free too. So no reason to wait any longer. Put this on your to do list next to any funeral insurance and arrange it.
Have you not yet arranged a guardian and do you want to record this for your child as soon as possible? For more information, please visit this government website and complete the custody register at Rechtspraak.nl.
And apart from the above… talk about it with people in your area who are involved in this. Not only with the chosen guardian but also with other family members. This way everyone knows what choice you have made for the future of your child and there can be no misunderstandings about it.
