Speak to April King Legal’s lawyers today for advice on guardianship clauses and other aspects of your Will, specific to your circumstances. If you have a child that is under the age of 18, you may wish to appoint a legal guardian to look after them should you die before they reach the age of majority. Call us on 0800 788 0500 or email support@aprilking.co.uk for a free appointment. Appointing legal Guardians enables you to choose and control who will look after your children in the event of your death. Who should you appoint as a guardian? The above is a general outline of appointing a guardian in your Will and a brief overview of parental responsibility. To help us improve GOV.UK, we’d like to know more about your visit today. Here are a few tips: Ask the chosen guardian for permission first! Typically guardian ad litems are appointed in any cases that may affect a child’s legal rights. Some states also have a co-guardianship law, where a parent can ask the court to appoint a third party as a permanent co-guardian. Those parents with Parental Responsibility can appoint a Legal Guardian for their children, in the event that they die whilst the child is under 18. Your Solicitor will assist with the court application to have you appointed as guardian. Should I appoint a legal guardian? If financial powers are sought it may also be necessary to obtain a report on your suitability as a financial guardian. If the mother survives, the father's appointment of a guardian only takes effect on the mother's eventual death. How to make someone a legal guardian. Choosing a guardian for your loved one is a very personal matter, so the choice should be between you and your chosen guardian. Guardianship is governed by the Children Act 1989. It’s important the person you appoint is willing and genuinely ready to take on legal guardianship for a child. You can appoint a legal guardian for your child by making a new will, or by making a small alteration to your existing will. The guardian will have the legal right to take care of the child as well as the right to make important decisions in their life. The reports require to be dated within 30 days of the application to the court for guardianship. If the mother has appointed a different person as guardian for the child then both appointees will share parental responsibility. It will take only 2 minutes to fill in. Guardian ad Litem: A guardian ad litem is a guardian appointed by the court to represent the ward’s interests during legal proceedings. We’ll send you a link to a feedback form. 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