I am a single mother living in North Carolina. My daughter is 6 years old now. Her father has never met her and has no interest in us at all. I don’t know where he is. He does not pay child support or have visitation of any kind. I haven’t even spoken with him since I got pregnant. I am really not concerned about him wanting custody. My larger concern is that my daughter not end up in the Social Services system.
I have very little family and want to make sure my daughter ends up with my sister and her husband if I were to die while she is a minor. My sister would seem the only logical choice from a legal standpoint as well (There really isn’t anyone else.), but I want to be as sure as possible.
Is there a document I can complete now that would help? Is this something I could specify in a will or similar? If so, how would it hold up in practice?
Thank you in advance for any insight you can provide.