As you prepare to send children or grandchildren off to college, you may want to consider some key documents every young adult needs.
In the United States, as soon as a minor turns 18, they’re typically considered a legal adult. As a result, parents no longer have any authority to make decisions for their child, including financial and health care decisions. Yahoo’s article entitled “Don’t Let Your Child Leave for College Without Signing Three Critical Documents” asks what if your adult child becomes sick or is in an accident and ends up hospitalized?
Because of privacy laws, known as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), you wouldn’t have any rights to get any information from the hospital regarding your child’s condition. Yes, we know you’re her mother. However, that’s the law!
You also wouldn’t have the ability to access his or her medical records or intercede on your child’s behalf regarding medical treatment and care.
If your child’s unable to communicate with doctors, you’d also have to ask a judge to appoint you as your child’s guardian before being able to be told of his or her condition and to make any healthcare decisions for them.
While this is hard when your child is still living at home, it’s a huge headache if your child is attending college away from home.
However, there’s a relatively easy fix to address this issue:
Ask an experienced estate planning attorney about drafting three legal documents for your child to sign:
- A Power of Attorney (DPOA) for Health Care. This document designates the parent as your child’s patient advocate.
- A HIPAA Authorization gives you access to your child’s medical records and lets you to discuss his or her health condition with doctors.
- A Durable Financial Power of Attorney designates the parent as your child’s agent, so that you can manage your child’s financial affairs, including things like banking and bill paying, in case your child becomes sick or injured, or is unable to act for any reason.
Don’t let your children or grandchildren go off to college or move away without ensuring that their estate planning documents are in place. This will give you the peace of mind of knowing that you can step in if needed.
Contact our office today to get started.
Reference: Yahoo (Aug. 2, 2022) “Don’t Let Your Child Leave for College Without Signing Three Critical Documents”
