Last week we talked about the revision process of your spiritual ethical will. This week I am going to focus on how you need to address beneficiaries that are under 18 years of age in your spiritual ethical will. To start with you will need to identify your minor dependents or beneficiaries.
There are several issues that you will need to address in your ethical will that deal with minor children. If these minor children are your dependents then you will need to first identify a guardian for these children in the event that both you and their other parent die while they are still under 18. When selecting a guardian it is usually a good idea to select someone they know, who is about your age and who is capable of caring for them.
Finances are the next issue that you will need to address. If you have a large estate, then you may also want to identify a trustee in addition to a legal guardian, to handle their finances until they turn 18. You will also need to state how you want your estate distributed in the event that only you die, as well as if both you and their other parent die. Finally, you will want to leave each child with a special message from you that will help direct their lives and let them know that you will always be with them in spirit.
Writing your spiritual ethical will is a great way to ensure that your children are taken care of in the event that you pass away. When writing your personal spiritual ethical will, keep in mind what your kids will need to survive physically, emotionally and spiritually. Next week we will discuss how to handle adult children in your ethical will.