Are all of your college-age children living away from home? While turning 18 means that your child is legally an adult, there are plenty of ways for parents to continue ensuring their safety. In this blog post, we’ll discuss four legal documents parents can consider when it comes time to protect their college students after age 18. So read on and learn how to make sure those kiddos are safe and secure – even in their most adventurous years!
Once your child turns 18, it can be a difficult transition for parents. Not only has the relationship changed, but you may also lose some of the legal rights and access to information you had while they were minors. This includes medical, financial and academic records – all of which become confidential under federal law when your child becomes an adult. It is important that as parents we take steps to ensure our children are legally protected in case of an emergency or illness. One way to do this is by having your adult children sign these four advance directives – Living Will, Health Care Surrogate, HIPAA Release Form and Durable Power of Attorney
Living Will
A Living Will is a legal document that allows an individual to specify what kind of medical treatment they wish to receive and/or deny if they are ever unable to make decisions for themselves due to incapacity. It also outlines their wishes regarding life-sustaining treatments like life support, artificial nutrition and hydration, as well as organ donation. A Living Will is important because it ensures your children’s wishes will be respected even if they cannot express them themselves.
Health Care Surrogate
A Health Care Surrogate form accompanies a Living Will. A Health Care Surrogate is someone you choose to make medical decisions for you if you cannot do it yourself. Parents can be the health care surrogate for their children after they turn 18, so that parents can still make sure their child is safe and taken care of. The parents will execute their child’s medical wishes according to their child’s wishes expressed in their Living Will.
HIPAA Release Form
A HIPAA Release Form is an important document that allows parents to access their adult children’s medical information. This includes their medical records, test results, diagnosis and any other health-related information. Having this form in place ensures that parents can stay up to date with their children’s health and receive timely updates from medical practitioners if necessary.
Durable Power of Attorney
A Durable Power of Attorney is a legal document that allows an individual to appoint someone else as their agent to manage their financial affairs. This means the appointed person can make decisions and take action regarding the other’s property, bank accounts, investments, and bills. College-age children should appoint their parents so the parents can continue to protect their children’s financial interests in case of an unforeseen emergency or medical crisis.
It is important for parents to protect their college-age children after they turn 18. By having your adult child sign legal documents such as a Living Will, Health Care Surrogate, HIPAA Release Form and Durable Power of Attorney, you can ensure that your child’s wishes will be respected in the case of an emergency or illness. These forms also give you access to medical records and allow you to manage financial affairs on behalf of your children if needed. Taking these steps can help provide peace of mind knowing that your college student is safe and secure – no matter what life throws at them.
Creating these documents can be complicated so it is essential to consult with an experienced attorney who can guide you in the right direction. Arvanitakis Law Group specializes in helping families create these advance directives and offers consultations tailored specifically to each family’s needs. Contact us today for more information on how we can help protect your college student!
