Although a Will enables you to nominate the guardian of your minor children in the event of your death, it has no affect unless and until you die. It does not provide for the care of your children should you become incapacitated and, as a result, are unable to care for them. A Standby Guardianship is a legal way for you to designate someone to care for your children in the future if you are unable to do so. Simply by signing the necessary documents with appropriate legal formality, a Standby Guardianship can be put into place now, while you are healthy, and becomes effective in the future only if you become unable to care for your children yourself. Further, the designation is suspended when you are again able to care for your children. You do not give up any of your parental rights. In this way, should you unexpectedly be unable to care for your children in the future, everything will have already been arranged by you in advance, and in a way that is agreeable to you.