Your Senior in high school graduated and is well on their way to their next step, whether it be university, a gap year or maybe just a break between high school and university. I remind you that once turning 18, our 18 year olds are no longer considered ‘ours’ in many respects. We, as parents, have no rights to their medical records, decisions, or much in adulthood. I have discussed ‘back in the day’ our rights as ‘young adults’ were mixed. When in university, we fought hard for the vote at the age of 18 and won it (partially because at that age, we could enter the armed forces), our parents (back in the day) could still make medical decisions for us until we were 21, and in some cases older. Today is a different story. We often say that things are not the same ‘when we were kids’, and it is so true.
When I was in my mid 20s, I fell and ‘blew my knee out’ on a ski slope and long story short, I headed back to Chicago and had my knee reconstructed under the supervision of my parents, and a well renowned knee surgeon at the time. While we made decisions together, my parents could call the hospital and receive updates. Today, this would not happen, unless there were some legal caveats in place.
As our children step into legal adulthood, getting the ‘legal house in order’ is very important.
Here are items to get in order (and the university may have this information on hand for you):
- When your child turns 18, and this could happen while they are in high school, you need a form for medical emergencies. This can be called a Healthcare Proxy, or can be referred to as a Healthcare Agent or Medical Power of Attorney or Durable Power of Attorney for healthcare. When your student leaves for university or a Gap Year, you will need to check with the state or country they will reside.
- HIPPA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act Accountability)- HIPPA Release- This allows healthcare providers to disclose health care information to anyone specified. 18 year olds still get sick and need to see a doctor and hopefully, they will never encounter an accident.
- Don’t learn the hard way. Universities will not give you access to your student’s grades. This is due to the FERPA law (recall, that this was signed when filling out the Common App to release from seeing the Letters of Recommendation). Your student can reverse this at university perhaps at the registrar’s office.
- Durable Power of Attorney: In case your child becomes incapacitated, you would want to make financial decisions for them.
Make sure your child registers to vote and if appropriate signs on for Selective Service (if a US Citizen).
I have been privy to several situations where parents stepped in to assist their children in dire situations and had the ability to do so because they had their legal documents taken care of is a comfort. They have been able to advocate for their children in ways in which their children could not.
As far as accomplishing the above – there are several avenues. The Grown and Flown website has a link to MamaBear where you can access their legal advice for a minimal charge. Or you can contact your family attorney. Keep in mind that different states have different laws regarding these laws.