A simple (I think) question?

Question

Do your godparents automatically become your guardians if something happens to both your parents (eg. death)? Are they supposed to be responsible for your well-being and act as foster parents to you? Also, I know there are different 'types' of godparents - the literal 'religious' kind and the 'secular' kind (for lack of a better word - meaning he/she likes you a lot and asks your parents for permission to become your godparents - more common in Asian societies I think). Is there a difference in what they do after *hypothetically speaking* your biological parents' deaths? What if you only have either a godfather or a godmother but not both (usually happens for 'secular' godparents)?

I'm just asking out of curiosity. I definitely do not want my parents gone, though I have a godmother (who's functioning as both religious and secular...my family isn't religious but I am).

Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

Guardianship is determined in a will or other legal document.

Answer 2

Do your godparents automatically become your guardians if something happens to both your parents (eg. death)?

Well that was what god parents were for .... but for profit adoption and foster care trumps it..

If a child has no parents the government and it's henchmen claim him... and anyone who tries to oppose them is charged..

But if the child is older... 4+ the foster care system after it makes it's money might give you to them so they can make a bed for kids 4- that can possibly be sold out in adoption......

Sadly you have no say... in any of it.. they stick you were they stick you... and if you don't like it... you get diagnosed with 5 conditions and drugged into submission... It happened to me it happened to many of my friends... you can't deny it.. I am walking talking proof..

Social workers and foster parents drugging their children.... proven by W5, CBC news, 6 states news agencies, all over youtube etc etc etc.. stories of having to have 6 year olds go threw dtalks once their parents or grandparents get them out of foster care...

Answer 3

No, Godparents are more of a figurehead.  Their role in the life of a child is to make sure the child is being raised in the church, or being raised Christian.  Your parents need to specify who they want guardianship to go to in their will.

Bizzi - you obviously have no idea how the system works.  Godparents were never meant to be the surrogate parent in case the parent's died.  They are and always were in charge of a child's being brought up in the faith.  Second, the state does not automatically claim the child and put them up for adoption or foster care if something happens to the parents.  They will almost always turn to living relatives to see if any one can care for the children first before resorting to a foster care situation.  Sheesh...you're not hitting nerves, you're just plain wrong.  That's why you got the thumbs down.

Answer 4

no, there has to be a living will that states who you should be left with in the event your parents die.

Answer 5

Your parents need to specify them as legal guardians upon their death in their final documents, whether that be a will or trust.  Simply stating that someone is a godparent isn't enough.

Answer 6

They don't automatically get you if something happens to your parents.  It needs to be in a will who would take care of you.  If it isn't written anywhere, my guess is you would go to a nearby family member or grandparent.

Answer 7

Nope. Godparents only get the child if the will states them as legal guardians. Unfortunatly I know of a little boy whose parents didn't realize this and the kid never went to his god parents. Didn't even go to family. Lives witha foster family somewhere which is really sad because he doesn't need to be in foster care, his parents just didn't know they needed to put that in the will. :(

Answer 8

Please talk to your parents about this, your feelings about guardianship are very important in case there is a tragedy in your family.  If they have not already, your parents must make a will which specifies who will care for you if something happens to them.  My husband and I were very careful about that.  We changed guardians in our will as our children grew older and their needs changed.  In fact when they were in high school my son's Godparents were their guardians (rather than my sister) so they could stay in the same school.

By all means, urge your parents not to leave it up the state to choose for you and your family.  Talk to them now.  As unlikely as tragedies are, they do occur and one must plan for them.

Good luck!

Answer 9

The only way that any type of Godparent would have any legal rights to take you if your parents died, is if your parents had a will and that was in the will.  If they do not have a will then you would be a ward of the state and the state would decide if you should go to a family member or friend...or if you should be placed in a foster home with strangers.

Answer 10

nothing happens unless you have documents saying that

Answer 11

No, they do not automatically be your guardian.  The guardian is chosen by your parents in their will or by the court (lack of will) to who is most fitted to be your guardian.  

I do not believe god parents has any stand with guardianship legally.

For me, i am my best friend's first born's godmom.  And I will also ask her to be my kids' god mom.  For me, (kind of weird) I will ask her to be my baby's god mom for one reason, i know she is a good person, and if something bad happen to me, i will want my baby to grow up to know who his biological mom is like, and no one knows me more than her right now.

Answer 12

Godparents are supposed to steer u in the right direction in god...its more of a religious looking after...they arnt legally binding contracts to look after u if anything was to happen to ur parents...

Answer 13

No godparents don't automatically become guardians. Maybe in the old days it was like that. Nowadays you have to put things on paper with the help of a solicitor to make things official, or otherwise the authorities will decide who will be the guardian of the kids in case something should happen (hope not). Most of the time they will appoint family to look after the children, but if more family members are offering it can be a long and pain full process before the children know where they will live in future. So if you (or your parents) want to be on the safe side its best to put things in writing. All the best and lets hope its never needed.

Answer 14

Generally if your parents have gone through the trouble to officially name someone as a godparent, they will also have made formal legal arrangements through their will that provide for their minor children's care.  I am fairly sure that, unless it is done through your parents' wills, the godparent arrangement is not binding.

Answer 15

There is no responsibility on the part of either the godfather or the godmother whether they came to you religiously or secularly. What binds and makes any one to accept responsibility is the extent of love and affection towards you. We cannot know what made them to love you as their daughter/son but somehow that is the binding factor.  May be there are a few things in you which they like and feel happy.  To sustain that love and extend it to small and big responsibilities as well the attraction of love must be from both the sides.

Answer 16

It really depends what is written in the will. Ask your parents. That is the easiest answer.

Answer 17

Godparents do NOT become guardians in case both parents die. The best way to establish a child's guardian in case of death is to create a will. No one thinks that they'll die. It's a morbid thought in our society. Wills are not just for people who have a lot of money. They are a good idea at any age. You never know what will happen until it's too late. It's a good idea to discuss wills with your parents.

Answer 18

Godparents are a religious symbol and different from the law.  Godparents help to guide your child(ren) through religion and are not automatically granted any legal rights to your child.

if you have children, it is important that you provide for them in the event of your untimely demise with a will granting guardianship of your child(ren).  Otherwise, they may get caught up in a legal battle as the court determines which next of kin is best for them.  

That could be especially messy if their mother or father is not a part of their lives -- they would still be considered next of kin.  My daughter's father was not around while she was growing up but, due to the law, he would beher next of kin and it could've been devastating to her if he had taken her because she did not know him at all.  My parents have been dead for quite some time so they would not have been an option nor do i think his parents would have been an option . . .so then what?  my daughter would've been placed in foster care.

Spare your child(ren) the legal wrangling and make sure you have a will that provides for guardianship should something unfortunate happen to you and their other parent.