Preparing a son or daughter for college involves countless decisions. Families spend weeks shopping for dorm essentials, planning move-in day, and talking about classes, roommates, and campus life. One important change, however, often gets overlooked.
When your child turns 18, they become a legal adult. Even though you are still their parent, your legal authority changes. If your child experiences a medical emergency or is unable to manage important financial matters, you may not automatically have the ability to step in and help.
That is why many families use this transition as an opportunity to talk with their college-bound student about signing a few basic legal documents. It’s a simple conversation that can provide clarity and peace of mind should the unexpected ever happen.
An Emergency Can Change Everything
No parent wants to imagine receiving a late-night phone call that their child has been injured or hospitalized. Fortunately, most college students will never face a serious medical emergency. Still, accidents, illnesses, and unexpected medical situations can happen anywhere, including on a college campus.
Once your child is an adult, health care providers are generally required to protect their medical privacy. Without the proper legal documents, you may not be able to receive medical information or make health care decisions if your child is unable to communicate their wishes.
A health care surrogate designation allows your child to choose someone they trust to make medical decisions if they cannot make those decisions themselves. A HIPAA authorization can also allow designated individuals to receive important medical information when it is needed.
Financial Matters Do Not Stop During an Emergency
College students often have checking accounts, credit cards, apartment leases, student loans, and other financial responsibilities. If an illness or accident temporarily prevents them from managing those obligations, someone may need legal authority to act on their behalf.
A durable power of attorney allows your child to appoint a trusted person to handle certain financial or legal matters if they become unable to do so. Depending on the circumstances, this could include communicating with financial institutions, handling paperwork, or addressing other important issues while your child focuses on recovery.
These Documents Are About Preparation, Not Expecting the Worst
Creating these legal documents does not mean you expect something bad to happen. It is no different than carrying health insurance or keeping a spare tire in your vehicle. Most people hope they never need them, but having them in place can make an already stressful situation much easier to navigate.
Just as importantly, these documents allow your child to decide who should be able to help if assistance is ever needed. Rather than leaving those decisions to uncertainty, they remain in control by making those choices in advance.
A Good Time to Have Important Conversations
Preparing these documents also creates an opportunity for meaningful family conversations before your child leaves home. It encourages parents and students to discuss who should be contacted in an emergency, who should be authorized to make medical decisions, and how important financial matters would be handled if circumstances suddenly changed.
These discussions may not be as exciting as decorating a dorm room or planning the first semester, but they can provide reassurance for everyone involved as your child begins this new chapter.
Don’t Wait Until the Last Minute
The weeks before college begins tend to fill up quickly with orientation programs, packing, moving, and countless other responsibilities. Taking care of these legal documents before the rush helps ensure everything is in place well before move-in day.
Sending a child to college is an exciting milestone. Making sure they have the appropriate legal protections in place is another important way to prepare them for the independence that comes with adulthood.
Whether your child is getting ready for their first semester or has already started college, it is not too late to have this conversation. Eastham Law Offices can help you determine which legal documents may be appropriate for your family’s circumstances. Call our office at 561-395-6800 or reach out through our online contact form to schedule a consultation.