We all hope that our children will live long and productive lives long after we are gone.  One should plan for the tragedy of leaving minor children behind after mother, father and other caretakers are gone.  You need a to have an estate plan in place if you wish to be the one to determine who cares for your child on a daily basis, who makes medical and other important decisions, who takes care of the money you have left for their care and who makes sure none of those powers are abused.