Protect Your Young Adult

Your Child Just Turned 18. Here's What Changed.

Turning 18, graduating and moving out are big milestones.



What many parents don't realize is that once your child turns 18, they're a legal adult. Without their written permission, you no longer have the right to see their medical information, talk with their doctors, or help with their bank accounts, even in an emergency, and even if you're still paying the bills.

What's Included

I offer young adults a mini estate plan. It gives you, or someone else they trust, the legal authority to step in if they need help. It includes:

• Incapacity planning documents: a Health Care Power of Attorney, Living Will, HIPAA Authorization and Durable Financial Power of Attorney, so a trusted person can get medical information and make medical and financial decisions if they can't

• A simple will

• A young adult version of my Key Information Toolkit: a fillable PDF that keeps all of their most important information in one place

• A FERPA Waiver if your young adult is in college

• Wallet cards from the NC Secretary of State's Advance Health Care Directive Registry: these let medical providers pull up their health care documents in an emergency


These documents are signed by your young adult, not by you, and I meet with them directly to explain what each one does. We also offer to send the documents with signing instructions.


Before They Leave Home

These documents are simple and don't take much time. If something ever happens, you won't have to get stuck in the court system to get permission to help your child.



Schedule a free 15-minute call to get started. If your own estate plan hasn't been updated since your kids were little, this is a good time to review that too.

  • My child just turned 18 — do I still have legal access to their medical and financial information?

    Once your child turns 18, they're legally an adult, even if they still feel like your kid. That means you no longer have automatic access to their medical records or financial accounts, and if something happens, you could find yourself locked out of decisions you've always made for them. A simple set of documents can restore that access and give you real peace of mind.

  • What is a Young Adult Plan?

    A Young Adult Plan is a set of essential documents for anyone 18 and older: a simple will, a durable financial power of attorney, a healthcare power of attorney, a living will, a HIPAA waiver, and, if your young adult is still in school, a FERPA waiver. Together, these documents let your young adult name someone they trust, often still you, to step in and make financial or medical decisions on their behalf if they're ever unable to.

  • Why does my college student need a power of attorney?

    Because once your child turns 18, you have no automatic legal authority to access their bank accounts, talk to their doctors, or make decisions on their behalf, even in an emergency. Without a healthcare power of attorney and a HIPAA waiver on file, a hospital may not even be able to tell you how your own child is doing. A Young Adult Plan puts that authority back in place, so you can be there for them when it matters most.

  • What documents should my 18-year-old have before leaving for college?

    At minimum, I recommend a durable financial power of attorney, a healthcare power of attorney, a living will, and a HIPAA waiver, plus a FERPA waiver if they're heading to school. These documents make sure that if something happens while they're away, whether it's a minor medical issue or something more serious, the people who love them can step in and help without a trip to court.

  • Is a Young Adult Plan only for college students?

    Not at all. Any young adult, whether they're heading to college, starting a job, or just living on their own, benefits from having these protections in place. Turning 18 comes with legal independence, and that independence should come with a plan behind it.

  • How long does a Young Adult Plan last, and does it need to be updated?

    These documents are built to remain valid and effective, but I recommend revisiting them periodically, especially as your young adult's life changes: a new school, a new state, a new relationship, or simply becoming a full-fledged adult with assets and decisions of their own. I'm always happy to help you review and update the plan as life moves forward.