5. Think about your children

Think about who will care for your children and the property you leave them after you die.

Talk to a lawyer about the differences between decision-making responsibility, trustee, and guardian of property, and how best to make plans for your children. Decision-making responsibility used to be called custody.

You can name the same person or different people to care for your children and their property. It's a good idea to ask the person and make sure they agree before naming them in your will. You can also talk to the person about how you would like your children to be raised and how you would like the money to be used for your children's benefit.

Minor children

Minor children are those who are younger than 18.

Decision-making responsibility

In most cases, the other parent will get decision-making responsibility of your minor children when you die. But, if no one else has decision-making responsibility, making a will allows you to name someone you trust to take care of your children for up to 90 days after you die.

If that person wants to continue to look after your children, they have to go to court and ask for decision-making responsibility before the 90 days have passed.

Trustee

You might want to create a trust for your children that puts conditions on how and when they get the property you leave them when you die. If you create a trust, you must also name someone to be a trustee who is responsible for managing the trust according to your instructions.

For example, you can create a trust that gives your minor children your property gradually over time. And it can include instructions for paying for things like school and extracurricular activities.

If you feel your adult children are not financially responsible, you can also use a trust to give them your property gradually over time or at an age when you think they will be responsible enough to use it well.

Guardian of property

In some cases, you might be able to name a guardian of property. A guardian of property controls, and is responsible for the property your children get for up to 90 days after you die. They must use the property for the benefit of your children, for example by paying for their schooling.

Child with a disability

If you have an adult child with special needs who is receiving government benefits or a younger child who may need government benefits after they turn 18, those benefits may be taken away if you leave them property in your will and didn't set up a Henson trust. If done correctly, a Henson trust allows your child to get the property you leave them and to continue to get government benefits.