Others Views on Godparents

Godparents are appointed to a child as a "spiritual guardian" - to basically look after their religious upbringing. A guardian is someone you appoint to legally to raise your children in case something happens to you. In our case, my daughter's godparents are also her guardians, but you can choose whomever you want. I would recommend appointing guardians and getting that done legally before anything else. I know it is morbid to think of it, but you need to be sure you and your husband choose who you want to raise your child in case of something happening. We did ours when my daughter was 2 months old. Hope this helps! :-)

You assign godparents when you baptise your child, guardians is a seperate legal issue if something happens to you and your husband.

In my mind, a "godparent" has a very special and specific role in your child's spiritual development. We intentionally did not appoint any godparents for our son because nobody who fit the bill lives close enough to us to have that sort of relationship with him, as much as we would like it.

It is CRUCIAL for legal purposes that you appoint a legal guardian for your son in case you and your husband pass away. It's way too important to leave up to the courts, and it needs to be documented in a legally binding will. We have my sister and her husband named as legal guardians for our son (with their agreement, of course), should we both pass away.

Hi S.,

What you're asking can vary from tradition in each family or by religion etc.
You pick Godparents when you baptize but also first communion (if Catholic).
In my case, I told the people I picked as Godparents that they would also be assigned as legal guardian on our will.
They just had their third child so we're kind of considering an arrangement where maybe they'd be with them during the schoolyear (my sister and her hubby) and then to my other sister and her hubby during the summers so the responsability could be broken up a bit.
Of course, I trust them blindly with the estate and with any inheritance, school funds etc, that's where'd they'd go, to my kids...
So it has to be someone you trust to also spend your money on the kids, or leave a trust until they're 25, some for college etc... that's they way we're setting it up.

Godparents are the people you choose to help spiritually and morally guide the child. Traditionally, they were also given guardianship if the parents died. Today, you have to legally designate the guardians (they can be the Godparents). If the child is not to be baptized, there are no Godparents. I would definitely set up legal documents for guardianship to one, or two, person(s) in case something were to ever happen to you and your husband.

this was very difficult for me and my husband to decide. I have 3 siblings and we all have different God Parents. mine disappeared- my siblings got special gifts from theirs during special moments in their lives. This made me rather sad. anyway, I agree its different with everyone and their religion. We decided that our boys should have the same God Parent. That was difficult because I would have loved to have chosen my sister but why have someone different?? The GOd parents are different on who we would choose for guardian-the God father was my husbands best friend since they were 6 motnhs old and he is very spiritial and mine was my best friend.

Godparents are more of a religious moniker and guardians are someone who you have LEGALLY appointed with proper paper work that will take care of your children if something were to happen to both of you. Usually you can set up some sort of 'trust' or something along with it.. not sure of ALL the technicalities since we have never done it.. we have godparents though. =)

God parents should not be friends, blood family only such as a sister, sister in law, cousin etc.

Guardians should be your parents or your husbands

I would think of it as 2 separate decisions. My husband and I struggled with who to ask as Godparents because we each have 2 sisters, and didn't want to leave anyone out, and think they would all be fabulous Godmothers. We ended up asking 1 sister each, so our daughter has 2 Godmothers and 1 Godfather. I think it used to be tradition that godparents are the people you ask to be legal guardians as well, but I don't think that is commonly followed anymore.

It is my belief that they are 4 separate people but can be the same people also. God parents are related to a religious ceremony such as a Christening or a Baptism. In the eyes of the church these people are appointed to help you raise your children with good morals and values. Guardians are the people you appoint through a will or legal document to take care of your child should something happen to you. Age is not really a factor as you want someone or something in place as soon as possible in case something happens (morbid I know). Both take a lot of thought as you have to think of your child's well being for many years to come. Many people can be God parents but would not be the best choice to raise your child for years to come.

Was your son babtized? that is where the God Parents come into play.
Guardian's are some one with who you appoint to leave your children with (ex. thru a will, or some type of legal paper work, in case of your & your husbands death.
You can see a lawyer or you can get legal doc's at office supply store. I would go thru a lawyer.

I agree with Erika's post - Godparents are the people you choose to help spiritually and morally guide the child. Traditionally, they were also given guardianship if the parents died. Today, you have to legally designate the guardians (they can be ayone you chose). If the child is not to be baptized, there are no Godparents. I would definitely set up legal documents for guardianship to one, or two, person(s) in case something were to ever happen to you and your husband and do this ASAP. I know we have it on our list to finally get this done as our kids are 19 months!