Who Gets Custody of Children if Both Parents Pass Away?

​By Attorney Kelly Rains Jesson

​Naming a guardian for minor children is one of the top reasons why a parent engages in estate planning. The only way to name a guardian for a minor child in the state of North Carolina is in a will (N.C.G.S. § 35A-1225(a) references “last will and testament” but does not mention any other document). So, making it a Facebook status or writing it on a cocktail napkin before a trip is not going to cut it.

Even though the statute states that the guardian named by the parent is a “recommendation” that serves as a “strong guide” to the clerk, court history shows that the clerk almost always will appoint the guardian named in the will, unless it’s not in the best interests of the child (for example, if the named guardian was a drug addict, felon, or incapacitated). The North Carolina legislature wrote that “[p]arents are presumed to know the best interest of their children.”

We recommend that parents agree on their choice of guardian in the event they both pass at the same time. If they name different guardians in their respective wills, there could be a dispute over who would serve, which defeats the purpose of naming a guardian in the will in the first place. However, a long-surviving spouse may update his/her will after the first spouse passes away. If that is the case, the court will appoint the guardian named in the will with the latest date.
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If you or someone you know needs help creating a will and naming a guardian for minor children, give Jesson & Rains a call!