Off to College: The Documents Every New Adult Should Have
Why this matters now
Once your child turns 18, you no longer have automatic authority to speak for them, even if you pay the tuition and they are on your health insurance. A doctor may decline to share information with you. A bank may not let you step in on a missed payment. A university will generally deal with your student, not with you.
Most of the time none of this comes up. But a sprained ankle on a hiking trip, a bad case of the flu, or a lost debit card while studying abroad can turn into a frustrating tangle when no one has the paperwork to help. A small set of documents, signed once, solves the problem and gives everyone peace of mind.
The start of the school year, or a visit home over Thanksgiving or winter break, is an ideal time to put them in place.
The documents
Four documents do most of the work. Each is signed by your student, who chooses whom to trust, usually one or both parents.
| Document | What it does | When it helps |
|---|---|---|
| General durable power of attorney | Lets a trusted person handle financial and administrative matters: bank accounts, bills, leases, taxes, insurance claims | Your student is abroad, busy with exams, or unable to act for a while |
| Health care power of attorney (advance directive) | Names a health care agent to talk with doctors and make medical decisions if your student cannot | An accident or sudden illness, especially far from home |
| HIPAA authorization | Allows doctors and hospitals to share health information with the people named | Getting updates and coordinating care, even when your student can still decide for themselves |
| FERPA consent | Allows the university to share education records, such as grades or financial aid information | Helping with an academic or billing problem |
A note on the health care document. Most advance directive forms also include a section on end-of-life preferences. For a healthy young adult, the part that matters day to day is simply naming the person who can speak for them. We keep that part front and center.
A simple will. Many young adults own very little in their own name, and much of what they do own, such as a retirement or brokerage account, passes by beneficiary designation. For some, a short will is still a sensible addition. We are happy to talk through whether it makes sense for your family, and it can be handled in the same meeting.
Common questions
Our student goes to school in another state. Does that matter? Documents properly signed in your home state are generally honored elsewhere, but hospitals and banks are more comfortable with forms they recognize. Where a student spends most of the year in another state, we consider whether a supplemental form for that state is worthwhile.
Doesn't the university already have a form? Many schools offer their own FERPA release, and some health centers have their own authorization. Those are useful but narrow. They do not cover banks, landlords, or hospitals off campus.
What about study abroad? A power of attorney is especially valuable when your student is overseas and cannot easily sign or appear in person. Keep scanned copies where both you and your student can reach them.
Isn't this overkill for a healthy 18-year-old? Think of it like a spare key. You hope never to need it, and it costs very little to have. The documents are simple and can be signed in a single short meeting.
Where should the documents live? Your student should have digital copies on their phone. Parents should keep copies too, and the health care documents can be shared with your student's primary care provider.
A good moment to revisit your own plan
A child leaving home is one of the natural checkpoints for your own estate plan. Many plans were written when the children were small, and some provisions no longer fit.
- Guardian nominations for minor children may no longer be needed for your older child.
- Trust distribution ages set years ago may now feel too early or too late given who your child is becoming.
- Fiduciary choices can change. An adult child may be ready for a role, such as a successor trustee or agent, alongside or after others.
- Beneficiary designations on retirement accounts and life insurance should match your current plan.
- 529 accounts should have a named successor owner.
- Family conversations become possible. Many parents find this is the right time to share, at an appropriate level, how the family plan works.
For founders and business owners, a review is also a chance to check that business interests, including any equity held in trust, are still coordinated with the rest of the plan.
How we can help
Vickery Law prepares a young adult document package for families: a general durable power of attorney, a health care power of attorney, a HIPAA authorization, and guidance on the university's FERPA release. We can usually complete it in a single meeting while your student is home on break, and we coordinate it with a review of your own plan if you would like one.
This article is for general information only and is not legal advice. Requirements for these documents vary by state. Vickery Law PLLC is licensed in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Washington State.
Questions about your own situation?
Every engagement is quoted as a flat fee, in writing, before any work begins.
Notice. General information for educational purposes only, not legal or tax advice, and no attorney-client relationship is created by reading it. Whether anything described here applies to you depends on your own facts, and the law changes.