What would happen to your kids if you didn’t make it home today?
Would your minor children land in the hands of strangers, an agency or anyone you wouldn't want caring for them?
Without the right legal documents in place, you might not like the answer. Even if you have a guardian named in your will, a will doesn't cut it if you are incapacitated, hospitalized or seriously injured — alive but unable to care for yourself or anyone else.
Plan now and prepare for the unexpected.
For a limited time, the Centini Law Kids’ Guardianship Guides for Florida and Pennsylvania residents are available as affordable digital downloads. Download these critical documents now.
If something happens to you, do not assume that the people you trust most will automatically have the legal authority or information they need to care for your minor children.
Without the right legal documents in place, they may not be able to:
Make important decisions about your children’s care
Step in to provide care if you are temporarily incapacitated
Understand your preferences for who should care for your children if you are unable to do so
Access the guidance and information they need to help maintain stability for your children during an unexpected crisis
This reality can be difficult to think about, especially when your children are young and depend on you for just about everything.
And I get it — no parent wants to imagine a situation in which they cannot be there for their children.
But planning ahead can help reduce uncertainty and give the people you trust important guidance when they need it most. Please hear me on this:
The best time to put critical legal documents in place is before you need them.
For a relatively small investment of time and money, you can take meaningful steps to communicate your wishes, identify the people you trust, and help prepare for your children’s care if the unexpected happens. These documents were personally drafted by me, Attorney Shelley Centini — and not AI — to help parents who reside in Florida or Pennsylvania plan for the care of their minor children.
I am committed to helping as many families as possible prepare for the unexpected and am excited to offer the Centini Law’s Kids’ Guardianship Guide for Florida and Pennsylvania families as an affordable, one-time digital download.
Each Kids’ Guardianship Guide contains critical legal documents to ensure your children are cared for if something were to happen to you.
You’ll receive the following essential documents and detailed instructions to complete each form:
Important Information for Caregivers
Springing Medical Power of Attorney
Temporary and Permanent Guardianship Documents
Letters to Guardians
What’s Inside:
✓ Important Information for Caregivers
A place to document essential details, instructions, and preferences to help ensure your child’s needs are met and their care remains consistent if you’re unable to be there.
✓ Springing Power of Attorney
This document helps A legal document that authorizes a designated person to make medical decisions on your child(ren)’s behalf if you are unable to make them yourself. This document takes effect only when specified conditions are met.
✓ Temporary and Permanent Guardianship Documents
These legal documents allow you to designate who will care for your child if you’re unable to do so—whether for a temporary period or on a longer-term basis. These documents help communicate your wishes and provide guidance for the people you trust most.
✓ Letters to Guardians
This letter helps you communicate your trust and confidence in the guardian(s) you have chosen. It explains their responsibilities and outlines exactly where they can find a copy of all legal documents.
A few manageable — but critical — documents.
One digital download designed to safeguard your family.
Have a specific question?
We have answers!
Click here to explore Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).
Planning matters.
When your kids are young, they need your protection more than ever. Of course you never want to imagine a time when you can’t be there to care for them. That doesn’t mean your family should be unprepared for whatever life brings.
Love them, plan ahead, and help ensure the people you trust are prepared to care for them if needed.
These Plan documents have been drafted by Shelley L. Centini, Esq., specifically for Florida and Pennsylvania residents
ABOUT SHELLEY CENTINI
After litigating for 30 years, I know how to use the court system—and when to avoid it.
For years, I was successfully guiding people experiencing legal conflicts through the court system, representing thousands of criminal clients and winning millions of dollars for civil clients. When the world experienced a COVID-driven upheaval in 2020, courts shut down and the system came to a grinding halt.
Tragic stories of young people dying from COVID and related illnesses hit home. Worse, as an attorney, I knew so many young families were completely unprepared. They did not have guardianships set up for their children and there was no estate plan. Some who did have a plan were shocked when that plan failed.
At the time, I was a mom of a minor child (who has now grown into an amazing young adult) and what I came to realize is that planning is not something you do for yourself. It is something you do for the people you love the most.
Doing something today (like downloading my fillable Kids’ Guardianship Guide) is 100% better than doing nothing at all. I am so proud of you for taking this step.
Shelley Centini, Esq., (pictured with her college-aged son) is a 10 Time Nationally Recognized Super Lawyer® and sole owner of Centini Law. Her law firm focuses on trust-based estate planning for individuals and families in Florida and Pennsylvania.
Click here to learn more about Shelley and hear her personal story.
Frequently Asked Questions
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These Young Adult Protection Plan digital documents are intended to provide basic estate planning documents for young adults in Florida and Pennsylvania. These Plans are meant to start conversations and provide a legal framework to help protect a young person if they are incapacitated or unable to make decisions on their own.
For complex situations or personalized legal advice, consulting a qualified estate planning attorney is recommended. Laws and requirements can vary by state and individual circumstances.
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These Plans have been drawn up for Florida and Pennsylvania residents by Shelley Centini, Esq., who is licensed to practice law in both states. If your young adult is not located at school in Florida or Pennsylvania or is not a Florida or Pennsylvania resident, do not purchase these documents.
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Ready-to-complete Kids’ Guardianship Guides are available as a one-time purchase. You will receive a fillable PDF of the documents outlined above. From time to time, we do offer these documents at a discounted cost. If any limited time pricing or offers have expired, the Plans will still be available online at their regular price.
Any additional costs for notarization (which is required to ensure legal validity of properly completed documents) are not included in the cost of the digital download available for purchase on this website.
Notary fees will vary based on your preferred notary, location and state.
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Young Adult Protection Plan documents should be completed after your adult child’s 18th birthday and, ideally, before they leave home for college or their own apartment. It is especially important to have the appropriate Plan documents prepared and notarized before an emergency occurs — and in case the importance of planning accidentally slips from your mind.
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Once you purchase the ready-to-complete PDF, the files are yours. Saving the original blank version on your computer or external hard drive and completing a separate version with your young adult child is recommended. If you need to make changes to the document, simply pull up the file, edit the appropriate sections and print a new copy. Re-complete the notarization process to result in new, updated and legally binding documents.
Once the new documents are notarized, shredding your old documents is recommended to avoid any confusion in the future. It is good practice to review your documents at least annually. Relationships, perspectives and wishes do evolve over time, so reviewing periodically makes logical sense.
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You are free to take any approach you’re comfortable with. However, when it comes to legal documents, children and family, I personally do not cut any corners or recommend anyone to “DIY” critical documents that can have a huge impact on people’s lives. If you’ve read this far, I doubt that you really want to take any unnecessary chances with what you value most either.
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Great question. When your child turns 18, your legal authority changes overnight. It doesn’t matter if they still live at home, rely on you financially or still look to you first when making important choices.
In the eyes of the law, your “baby” is an independent adult.
I also offer essential Young Adult Protection Plan documents to help you stay legally connected once your minor child becomes an adult.
Explore my Florida Young Adult Protection Plan Documents or Pennsylvania Young Adult Protection Plan Documents today and connect with a notary to help you finalize these documents as soon as possible. You'll be so glad you did!
Do you have a specific question related to Kids’ Plan Guardianship Guide that isn’t answered above?
Click here to contact me directly.
Your questions are important, and I will get back to you in a few business days.
Protect Who Matters — No Matter their Age
Along with my Kids’ Guardianship Guides (for minor children), I am also offering my Young Adult Protection Plan Documents (for individuals 18 and over), at a discounted cost for a limited time.
Be sure to choose the appropriate product for your state and child’s age.
Documents for Minor Children:
If something were to happen to you, how could you ensure your children are never left in the hands of strangers, an agency or anyone you wouldn't want caring for them?
Despite popular belief, naming a guardian in your will doesn't cut it in cases where you may be incapacitated, hospitalized or seriously injured — leaving you alive yet unable to care for your children.
Remember, wills are only operative after death.
These essential Kids' Guardianship Guide documents will safeguard your family when it comes to the care of your child(ren) should something happen to you.
Download them today, and connect with a notary to help you finalize these documents as soon as possible. You'll be so glad you did!
NOTE: These documents are usable by Florida residents only and require notarization. If you are not a Florida resident, these forms are not guaranteed to be valid in your state.
If something were to happen to you, how could you ensure your children are never left in the hands of strangers, an agency or anyone you wouldn't want caring for them?
Despite popular belief, naming a guardian in your will doesn't cut it in cases where you may be incapacitated, hospitalized or seriously injured — leaving you alive yet unable to care for your children.
Remember, wills are only operative after death.
These essential Kids' Guardianship Guide documents will safeguard your family when it comes to the care of your child(ren) should something happen to you.
Download them today, and connect with a notary to help you finalize these documents as soon as possible. You'll be so glad you did!
NOTE: These documents are usable by Pennsylvania residents only and require notarization. If you are not a Pennsylvania resident, these forms are not guaranteed to be valid in your state.
Documents for Young Adults
(18 years and older):
Estate planning is critical to protect children of all ages, but what happens the moment your child goes from a 17-year-old child to an 18-year-old legal adult?
Whether you think they’re mature enough or ready for this kind of independence or responsibility does not matter. Legally, many areas of their life that were once under your control will become entirely their responsibility on their 18th birthday.
Here’s something to think about. If your 18-year-old were to get into a severe car accident and require hospitalization, you would no longer have the automatic authority to make decisions about their medical treatment or manage their financial affairs. Without legal documentation, you wouldn’t even be able to access your child’s medical records or bank accounts without a court order.
We've created our Young Adult Protection Plan Documents to deal with this vulnerability.
These basic — but vital — estate planning documents will help your family avoid an expensive, stressful, and unnecessary court process.
Our Young Adult Protection Plan digital download includes:
1. Medical Power of Attorney: A medical power of attorney is an advance healthcare directive that allows your child to grant you (or someone else) the immediate legal authority to make healthcare decisions on their behalf if they become incapacitated and cannot make these decisions themselves. If they are incapacitated in a car accident or fall into a coma due to a debilitating illness, a medical power of attorney allows you to legally make decisions on your child's behalf. Without a medical power of attorney, a court may have to become involved for you to make decisions or get information.
In medical emergencies, time is of the essence. A court process will be the absolute last thing you want to think about.
Also, due to HIPAA (health care privacy) laws, once your child turns 18, no one — not even their parents — can legally access their medical records without prior written permission. But, a properly drafted medical power of attorney will include a signed HIPAA authorization so you can immediately access your child’s medical records to make informed decisions about their treatment.
2. Advance Medical Directive (Living Will): This advance directive provides specific guidance about how medical decisions should be made, particularly at the end of life. A living will allows your child to decide if and when they want life support removed should they ever require it. In addition to documenting how your child wants their medical care managed, a living will can also include instructions about who should visit them in the hospital and even what kind of food they would want.
One of the most powerful parts about creating a living will is the opportunity to have open conversations with your child about what THEY would want to happen in a challenging and emotionally charged situation. Once you know how they feel and think about topics like intubation, ventilators, experimental medications, and organ donation, you’d never have to make an excruciating healthcare decision alone, always wondering what they would have wanted.
3. Durable Financial Power of Attorney: If your adult child is incapacitated, you'll likely need the ability to access and manage their finances and legal affairs. This permission can be granted through a durable financial power of attorney. Durable financial power of attorney allows you to pay their tuition, apply for student loans, pay rent, negotiate a lease, manage their bank accounts, and collect government benefits if necessary. Without this document, you would have to petition the court for such authority, which takes time and spikes everyone's stress levels even more.
Start Adulthood on The Right Track
No one, no matter how young, vibrant, and careful they are, is immune to an accident in their lifetime. Before your kids leave the nest or turn 18, open a discussion about these topics and document those choices. With this digital download, you will have the structure and legal documents approved for use in PA to help your family avoid a costly and emotional court process. You're also setting a solid example and demonstrating the importance of making proactive financial and legal choices.
NOTE: These documents are usable by Pennsylvania residents only and require notarization. If you are not a Pennsylvania resident, these forms are not guaranteed to be valid in your state.
Estate planning is critical to protect children of all ages, but what happens the moment your child goes from a 17-year-old child to an 18-year-old legal adult?
Whether you think they’re mature enough or ready for this kind of independence or responsibility does not matter. Legally, many areas of their life that were once under your control will become entirely their responsibility on their 18th birthday.
Here’s something to think about. If your 18-year-old were to get into a severe car accident and require hospitalization, you would no longer have the automatic authority to make decisions about their medical treatment or manage their financial affairs. Without legal documentation, you wouldn’t even be able to access your child’s medical records or bank accounts without a court order.
We've created our Young Adult Protection Plan Documents to deal with this vulnerability.
These basic — but vital — estate planning documents will help your family avoid an expensive, stressful, and unnecessary court process.
Our Young Adult Protection Plan digital download includes:
1. Medical Power of Attorney: A medical power of attorney is an advance healthcare directive that allows your child to grant you (or someone else) the immediate legal authority to make healthcare decisions on their behalf if they become incapacitated and cannot make these decisions themselves. If they are incapacitated in a car accident or fall into a coma due to a debilitating illness, a medical power of attorney allows you to legally make decisions on your child's behalf. Without a medical power of attorney, a court may have to become involved for you to make decisions or get information.
In medical emergencies, time is of the essence. A court process will be the absolute last thing you want to think about.
Also, due to HIPAA (health care privacy) laws, once your child turns 18, no one — not even their parents — can legally access their medical records without prior written permission. But, a properly drafted medical power of attorney will include a signed HIPAA authorization so you can immediately access your child’s medical records to make informed decisions about their treatment.
2. Advance Medical Directive (Living Will): This advance directive provides specific guidance about how medical decisions should be made, particularly at the end of life. A living will allows your child to decide if and when they want life support removed should they ever require it. In addition to documenting how your child wants their medical care managed, a living will can also include instructions about who should visit them in the hospital and even what kind of food they would want.
One of the most powerful parts about creating a living will is the opportunity to have open conversations with your child about what THEY would want to happen in a challenging and emotionally charged situation. Once you know how they feel and think about topics like intubation, ventilators, experimental medications, and organ donation, you’d never have to make an excruciating healthcare decision alone, always wondering what they would have wanted.
3. Durable Financial Power of Attorney: If your adult child is incapacitated, you'll likely need the ability to access and manage their finances and legal affairs. This permission can be granted through a durable financial power of attorney. Durable financial power of attorney allows you to pay their tuition, apply for student loans, pay rent, negotiate a lease, manage their bank accounts, and collect government benefits if necessary. Without this document, you would have to petition the court for such authority, which takes time and spikes everyone's stress levels even more.
Start Adulthood on The Right Track
No one, no matter how young, vibrant, and careful they are, is immune to an accident in their lifetime. Before your kids leave the nest or turn 18, open a discussion about these topics and document those choices. With this digital download, you will have the structure and legal documents approved for use in Florida to help your family avoid a costly and emotional court process. You're also setting a solid example and demonstrating the importance of making proactive financial and legal choices.
NOTE: These documents are usable by Florida residents only and require notarization. If you are not a Florida resident, these forms are not guaranteed to be valid in your state.