Key Legal Documents for Childcare
By considering worst-case scenarios, you can prepare the right legal documents in the event you’re not there to make decisions on your children’s behalf. For example, a Child Care Authorization Form allows someone to temporarily care for or make decisions about your kids, such as allowing your neighbor or relative to pick them up from daycare, take them to the emergency room, and more. A Medical Treatment Authorization for a Minor Form is essential in case a hospital trip is required.
Organize your authorization forms and any detailed Child Care Instructions into an easy-to-reference binder for your children’s caregiver to ensure everything goes smoothly, whether your absence is planned or unexpected. If you’re leaving your kids with a caregiver for a planned trip, you’ll want to include details such as your travel itinerary and contact information. Otherwise, you may want to include:
- Schedules for the kids.
- Meal ideas, including what to make, food preferences and allergies, and where to order delivery or eat out.
- Emergency contacts, including neighbors or nearby family, their doctor, and local emergency numbers for poison control, police, and the fire department.
- Copies of each important document they might need.
- Where to find important official (kid) documents, such as passports, immunization records, insurance cards, and official birth certificates.
Planning for Long-Term Guardianship
You’ll also want to plan for long-term guardianship in the event of an extended separation from your children. Planning for a vacation is one thing, but unexpected events—such as a caregiver’s detention or deportation in a mixed-status family, incarceration, or a death that leaves your children without their sole guardian(s)—may benefit from additional legal measures.
If you want to grant legal authority to make major decisions, you may want to consider creating a Power of Attorney for Child. This legal document serves as a temporary delegation of parental authority, often used when parents are unable to take care of their children for an extended period of time (usually up to six months or a year). Also, make sure you’ve selected a trusted individual as a guardian for your children in your Last Will and Testament in case something happens to you.
Consult with a Legal Pro
Unsure where to begin? Perhaps you have special circumstances that require discreet consultation with an experienced attorney. Everyone’s needs differ, so consider speaking with a Legal Pro today for expert legal advice and ensure your children are in good hands, no matter what the future brings.
Please note: This page offers general legal information, not but not legal advice tailored for your specific legal situation. Rocket Lawyer Incorporated isn't a law firm or a substitute for one. For further information on this topic, you can Ask a Legal Pro.
