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Documents for your Young Adults.

As parents, we are accustomed to doing everything for our children; we have the obligation and the legal authority to do so. This includes making medical decisions, speaking to insurance companies, teachers, etc. But what many of us do not realize is that we lose all of those rights when our children turn 18. Not to suggest that anyone be a “helicopter parent”. But there are many good and practical reasons why we may still want to make some decisions on our children’s behalf after they turn 18, or at least be able obtain information pertaining to them.

Many children remain on their parents’ health insurance or automobile insurane policies even after they turn 18. But did you know that you cannot make any changes or obtain information regarding that policy on their behalf even though the policy may be in your name? What if you want to change their primary care physician now that they have moved away to college? The insurance company will require your child to sign an authorization before they can speak with you. Sometimes our children leave to college and, for reasons that they know very well, they may not want the parents knowing their grades. Did you know that their college or university will not share any grades with you unless your child specifically consents? It seems to me that if you are paying for college you should have the right to know that your child is passing the classes you are paying for.

In order to avoid these problems, you may want to consider having your child execute documents that would authorize you to make medical decisions, or other decisions, on their behalf, and that would authorize you to obtain information pertaining to them after they turn 18. And yes, your child can later revoke these powers once it no longer seems prudent or necessary that you have them. Consult with a qualified attorney as soon as possible in order to prepare these documents and avoid possible situations where you will be left in the dark about your child’s life.