Who Takes Care of the Children after the Death of a Parent

Illinois law provides considerable freedom to judges in choosing who assumes guardianship of a minor, although the law does place some general restrictions on the court.  The procedure for the choice of guardian starts with the notification of interested persons, usually close family members, that the court will appoint a guardian. People may then petition the court to act as guardian for the minor, and the court will weigh the evidence and use its judgment to try to determine who can best raise the child.

While parents have the right to make such decisions during their estate planning process, not everyone makes these preparations, and that leaves the decision of who raises the children up to the court.

http://www.dgaalaw.com/dgaablawg/Illinois-parent-death-estate-planning

If you are thinking about preparing a Will, or want to ensure the future security of your children, contact an estate planning lawyer today.