Why grandparents may not be the best guardians 

To begin with, there are many ways in which grandparents can be great guardians. They do love their children. They also raised those children’s parents, so they know what they’re doing. They want to have a close relationship, and they can provide stability and security for children if their parents pass away unexpectedly. There are some cases in which grandparents are an excellent choice when parents are deciding who to choose as a guardian for their children.

But it is also important to consider the realities of the situation and that grandparents may not be the optimal pick. Much of this simply has to do with age.

Raising a child for 18 years

The key thing to consider is how long the guardianship would last.

For instance, maybe the grandparent is only in their 40s, after having their own children at a young age. Even if they had to take over as the guardian today, they would still only be in their 60s when that child reached 18. They would likely still be able to provide all of the care that was necessary.

But what if the grandparents were already in their 60s when that grandchild was born? If so, then they may not be a wise choice because they would be in their late 70s by the time the child turned 18. Additionally, parents have to consider things like mental or physical decline, both issues that are more common when people reach this advanced age.

Age and health are just two things to consider when selecting a guardian. Those who are making an estate plan must know what steps to take to protect their interests and achieve their goals.