Modern Estate Planning Blog

It's back to school time and that means filling out the school emergency card. If you have not, In this article I want to dispel the common myth regarding the school emergency cards we all fill out at the beginning of each school year.

Contrary to popular belief, a school emergency card will not protect your children from spending time in the hands of social services if something tragic happens to you. The emergency card only gives named contacts permission to pick your kid up if they are sick, not take short-term custody of them if one or both parents are killed or incapacitated in an accident.

Below 3 easy steps parent can take to create an emergency plan prior to going to back to school so there is no confusion or legal headaches should tragedy strike.

1. Legally name short-term guardians for your kids– Short-term guardians are the people who have legal permission to care for your child until the surviving parent or long-term guardian can arrive. This should ultimately be someone who lives close by and one who will comfort your children in an emergency.
2. Make sure your short-term guardians match those named on the school emergency card– In addition to listing friends and neighbors who can pick your child up from school if he or she gets sick, it’s equally important to list the full contact information of your short-term guardians for true emergencies. Without this information, your children could be placed temporarily in the custody of social services until the surviving parent or legal guardian can arrive.
3. Make sure the babysitter knows what to do if you don’t return home– It’s extremely important that parents give their babysitters detailed instructions on what to do and who to call if they don’t return home. In most cases, a babysitter will panic and turn to the police for help, again opening the door for social services to temporarily take custody of your kids until a long-term care provider can arrive.

Creating a back-to-school emergency plan is so easy— and something that will greatly pay off if a parent is injured or killed during school hours. The first few hours after an emergency are the most painful for a child, so it’s important for parents to make sure their kids spend that time with people they love and trust, rather than in the arms of the state.

If you’d like assistance, simply call our office at (916) 241-9661 and schedule a consultation. We’d be happy to answer your questions and help you map out a plan that ensures your child would be protected through all of life’s transitions.

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