What is a godparent?
A godparent's role is a moral and religious one; it is the role of a 'sponsor' and being named as a godparent to a child does not create a legal relationship between the godparent and the child. If both a child's parents were to die the godparent would not automatically become the child's guardian.
What is a guardian?
A guardian's role, on the other hand, is a legal one. If both of a child's parents were to die whilst a child is a minor (under 18 years of age), the guardian would have legal rights and obligations in respect of the child.
Can the same person be a godparent and a guardian?
You may wish to appoint the same person as godparent and guardian but, either way, to ensure that the person you wish to care for your minor child can do so in the event of your death it is important to legally appoint that person as a guardian.
How do I legally appoint a guardian?
You can appoint a guardian for your children within your will or (less commonly) by a separate formal document. It is important to take legal advice before legally appointing a guardian to ensure you understand how the appointment will work as this may be different depending on your circumstances i.e. who has parental responsibility for the children, whether you are married, unmarried, divorced, whether you wish to include conditions upon the appointment of the guardian and whether you wish to appoint a substitute guardian etc. It is also important to ensure the document is correctly executed so that the appointment is valid.
What happens if I do not legally appoint a guardian?
If you do not legally appoint a guardian, the court may appoint someone instead and this may not be the person you wish to care for your minor child.
So, if you have young children, to give you peace of mind, check your will to ensure that you have included a guardianship provision. Or, if you don't already have a will in place, consider putting one in place and including a guardianship provision within it.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.