With the 4th of July, (the time to celebrate Independence in our country) fast approaching I have been reflecting upon how thankful I am to live in the United States of America. One of the main reasons I practice law is to protect the freedoms and rights we have as individuals according to our Constitution. Also, from studying governments and laws of other nations I realize how unique and amazing our Constitution is. However, the United States Constitution does not give us our rights. It was created to protect and secure our rights.

Thomas Jefferson wrote:

We hold these truths to be self evident; that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” So actually our rights/ freedoms are given to us by our Creator. And the Constitution was created to keep government from infringing upon the God given rights of the people.

I love this country and I am proud to be an American. Also, I am so thankful for the men and women who sacrificed so much in the founding of this great nation. Our founding fathers were brilliant in the foresight and knowledge in creating the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution. These are two of the greatest government documents ever created. Yet how well do we know them? When was the last time you or I read the Constitution or Declaration of Independence? These thoughts and questions have challenged me to dig deeper in the knowledge of these great documents.

If we don’t know what the Constitution says, it makes it easier to “lose” or compromise our freedom. Or even watch them slowly fade away. Thomas Jefferson said, “ People that expect to be ignorant and free expect something that never was and never will be.” Benjamin Franklin said “ those who are willing to give up some freedom for more security deserve neither freedom nor security.” Our country was founded by people who were knowledgeable and involved. We need to return to being people who are knowledgeable about their government and involved in the process.

Abraham Lincoln said “America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms it will be because we destroyed ourselves.” Then Ronald Reagan said “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on to them for to do the same.

Obviously, if you love freedom you can see the time to take action and fight for it is now. Would you say as Patrick Henry did, “give me liberty or give me Death!”

As we celebrate Independence Day let’s reflect on how thankful we are to live in this great country and what kind of country we want to pass on for our children and grandchildren. So. I challenge you and myself to read the Constitution and Declaration of Independence by the 4th of July.

Happy reading and happy Freedom Day!

Who is the nominated Guardian for your kids? How did you choose that person? Who would take care of your kids if you and your spouse died?

Did you know that well over 60% of parents with children under the age of 18 do not have a Will? Most people think their parents or sister or best friend will automatically take on the responsibility of their kids if they died. However, things might not necessarily work out that way. And if this is not planned ahead of time then the transition will be way more chaotic than it needs to be. At an already devastating time for your kids this would just multiply the emotional pain.

So how do I name a guardian and avoid this emotional trauma? Good question. You can have a Will drafted and name the guardian and alternate guardian within that document. We will talk more extensively about Wills in another article. So the next question is who should you nominate as a guardian? It’s not an easy decision and is probably the most difficult decision to make. Obviously, there are no perfect solutions, but the following considerations include:

Financial: Can your guardian afford to take care of your children or would it place them in financial stress?
Age: What is the current age of your guardian? Would they have the maturity to care for your children if something were to happen to you tomorrow? Are they young enough to cope with the care of your children not just now but over the next 18 years?

Lifestyle: Will your guardian have the same values, beliefs, and outlook on life that are important to you?
Geography: Is your guardian likely to live in a location that would enable your children to retain contact with other friends and family members?

Family Considerations: It is important to consider the competing demands of the guardian’s own children. How would this change the family dynamics? What if they don’t get along? While many people choose a family member as guardian it is not a requirement. And it may not always be practical. The most important question is what is best for your children regardless of family ties? If you do choose a family friend to be guardian, it is wise to make your family aware of your decision and the reasons behind it.

Remember you can always change your guardian (and you should review it every 3 years). The most important thing is to JUST DO IT! So have you named a guardian for your children? If so, who did you choose and why?