What is the guardian nomination worksheet form template?
Choosing a guardian is the part of estate planning parents put off longest. It's emotional, it involves other people, and it's hard to know what to think about. Many arrive at a lawyer's office having never said their choice out loud.
This worksheet gives them a gentle structure. It starts with who's completing it and the children's names and dates of birth, then asks for a first-choice guardian and a backup, with space for why each person was chosen and whether they've been asked. Naming a couple raises the question few people think of: what happens if the couple separates?
One page separates raising the children from managing their money. Choosing a separate guardian of finances or trustee reveals a short trustee section. The worksheet ends with the parents' wishes for the children's upbringing in their own words. It's saved as a PDF in your FileIt vault, ready for the meeting.
- Best for
- Estate planning lawyers, will-writing services and financial planners
- Filled in by
- One or both parents, before an estate planning meeting
- Time to complete
- About 15 minutes, plus time to think
- Includes
- Children, first and backup guardians, couple contingency, trustee section, funding, age of access, upbringing wishes
Who uses a guardian nomination worksheet form?
- Sending to new parents who've booked a will appointment
- A companion to an estate planning questionnaire, focused only on the children
- Blended families thinking through each parent's role
- Parents of a child with additional needs planning long-term care
- Updating an old will after a move, divorce or new baby
- Workplace legal plans offering a guided first step
Questions on this guardian nomination worksheet form
39 questions over 5 pages · includes conditional questions, multiple pages, consent checkbox.
1 You & your children
- Your name*
- Email*
- Phone
- State or country where you live*
- Who is completing this worksheet?* Both parents, together · Just me — the children's other parent is living · Just me — I'm the only living parent
- Other parent's name asked only when it applies
- Anything your lawyer should know about the other parent's role asked only when it applies
- Each child's full name and date of birth*
- Does any child have medical, educational or care needs a guardian should plan for?
- Tell us about those needs asked only when it applies
2 Your first choice
- Guardian's name*
- Their relationship to you*
- Their phone
- Their address
- Are you naming one person or a couple?* One person · A couple
- Their partner's name asked only when it applies
- If the couple separate, or one of them dies, who should continue? asked only when it applies The person I named first · Either of them · I'd like to discuss this
- Have you talked to them about it?* Yes, and they've agreed · Yes, they're thinking about it · Not yet
- Why are they your first choice?*
3 Your backup choice
- Backup guardian's name*
- Their relationship to you*
- Their phone
- Have you talked to them about it? Yes, and they've agreed · Yes, they're thinking about it · Not yet
- Why are they your backup choice?
- Is there anyone you would not want to be guardian?
- Who, and why asked only when it applies
4 Money for the children
- Who should look after money you leave for the children?* A separate guardian of finances or trustee · The same person as the guardian · I'm not sure — I'd like to discuss it
- Trustee's name* asked only when it applies
- Their relationship to you asked only when it applies
- Their phone asked only when it applies
- Why this person for the money? asked only when it applies
- Backup trustee (optional) asked only when it applies
- What would provide for the children? Life insurance · Savings and investments · Retirement accounts · Our home · A business · Not sure yet
- At what age would you like the children to receive money outright? 18 · 21 · 25 · In stages · I'd like to discuss it
5 Your wishes
- Which of these matter to you? Keeping the children together · Staying in their school or community · Their faith or religious upbringing · Contact with grandparents and extended family · Education and university · Health, diet or medical care · Keeping family pets
- In your own words, what would you want the guardian to know?
- Do you already have a will?* Yes, and it needs updating · No · I'm not sure
- What would you like to happen next? Book a meeting · A phone call first · Send me information by email
- I understand*
The guardian nomination worksheet form, page by page
1 You & your children
Name, email, phone and where the parents live. "Who is completing this worksheet?" Both parents asks for the other parent's name. One parent, with the other living, asks about the other parent's role. Then "Each child's full name and date of birth" and any medical, educational or care needs a guardian should plan for.
2 Your first choice
The guardian's name, relationship, phone and address, and whether it's one person or a couple. A couple asks for the partner's name and who should continue if they separate or one dies. "Have you talked to them about it?" and "Why are they your first choice?" complete the page.
3 Your backup choice
The same core questions for the backup guardian, then an optional question about anyone the parents would not want as guardian. The help text asks them to write calmly and factually.
4 Money for the children
"Who should look after money you leave for the children?" Choosing a separate guardian of finances or trustee reveals the trustee's name, relationship, phone, the reason for choosing them and an optional backup. Everyone is asked what would provide for the children and at what age they should receive money outright.
5 Your wishes
A checklist of things that often matter — keeping siblings together, staying in the same school, faith, extended family, education, health and pets — then a free-text box. Whether they already have a will, how they'd like to proceed, and an acknowledgement that the worksheet doesn't appoint anyone by itself.
Make the template yours
- Change the terms to those used where you practise, such as guardian of the estate or conservator
- Remove the trustee page if you cover money in a separate questionnaire
- Add a question about pets' care or a family home the children might live in
- Duplicate the backup page if you want parents to name a third choice
- File worksheets in each family's client folder
- Add your meeting booking link to the confirmation message
Tips for a better guardian nomination worksheet form
- Encourage parents to talk to their chosen guardian before the meeting, not after
- Look at whether the guardian and trustee are likely to work well together
- Revisit the choice when children get older or circumstances change
- Let parents complete it separately if they disagree — the differences are worth discussing
Every response becomes a PDF in your vault
The worksheet is filed as a PDF in the vault folder you choose and you're notified by email. The parent receives a copy of their answers by email.
In the Responses table you can see which families have sent their worksheet before their meeting, and export the list to CSV.
- Start from this template. It opens in the FileIt Forms designer — change any question, add pages, set the rules for when questions appear.
- Share it. Turn on a public link, or send it to people by email, each with their own link. They don’t need a FileIt account.
- Get the answers as PDFs. Each response is saved as a PDF in the vault folder you choose, with uploaded files attached — and listed in a Responses table you can export to CSV.
Guardian nomination worksheet form: frequently asked questions
Is this guardian worksheet template free?
Yes. It's one of the ready-made templates in FileIt's Forms app, available on every plan, including free.
Does completing the worksheet appoint a guardian?
No. It records the parents' thinking for a lawyer to discuss with them. Appointments are made in documents a lawyer prepares, and the rules vary by place.
Why separate the guardian from the person managing money?
Some parents want one person to raise the children and another to handle finances. The worksheet lets them say so, or say they'd like to talk it through.
Can both parents fill in one worksheet?
Yes. Choosing "Both parents, together" asks for the other parent's name. Parents who want to answer separately can each submit their own.
Do parents need a FileIt account?
No. Anyone with the link can complete it.
Is this legal advice?
No. It's a starting template to help parents prepare. Their lawyer advises on what to put in their will.