Your family is growing. Your protection should too.

A court decides. A judge who's never met your family will choose based on who petitions and statutory priority — typically close relatives, but not necessarily the person you would have picked. Naming a guardian doesn't guarantee a court will follow your wishes, but courts give strong weight to a parent's documented preference.

That's up to you. Without a trust, most states release assets to children at 18 — ready or not. A trust lets you set the terms: a trustee manages the funds until the age you specify, and you can define what the money can be used for in the meantime (education, health, housing) and whether they get it all at once or in stages.

You can share a single trust that covers both of you, which is what most couples do. But each parent should have their own healthcare directive and power of attorney — these are individual documents that name who can make decisions for you specifically.

A common formula: enough to replace your income for 10-15 years, plus pay off the mortgage, plus fund childcare and education. Most new parents are underinsured by $500K or more. Term life insurance is inexpensive when you're young and healthy — this is the cheapest it will ever be.

This is common. Start by listing what matters most — values, location, parenting style, financial stability — and see where you align. Remember: you're also naming a backup, and your trustee (who manages the money) can be a different person than your guardian (who raises the child). Separating those roles sometimes breaks the logjam.