college

Once your child reaches the age of 18, your decision-making role as a parent is significantly diminished, especially in regards to making healthcare decisions.

4 Things to Take Care of Before Your Kids Go Off to College

May is graduation month. This is a time when many of you may be celebrating your children’s academic achievements, and even getting ready to send them off to college. During this hectic and emotionally tumultuous time, parents may be all-consumed with helping prepare their soon-to-be college student for the next phase, causing them to overlook important estate planning matters.

Don’t forget these important items that should be added to your to-do list as you get ready to send your kids off to college.

1.  Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care

Every year, roughly a quarter of a million young adults between the ages of 18-25 wind up in the hospital according to Forbes.com. From alcohol poisoning and nonlethal accidents to unexpected illnesses, it’s important to remember to hope for the best, but prepare for the worst. Once your child reaches the age of 18, your decision-making role as a parent is significantly diminished, especially in regards to making healthcare decisions.

Should your child get in a car accident, or fall ill and not be capable of making their own medical decisions, then without a durable power of attorney naming you as their health care agents, even though you’re their parent, you are not allowed to make medical decisions on your child’s behalf. To ensure that you can continue to make healthcare decisions for your child, then working with you and your child to create a health care power of attorney should be at the top of your to-do list.

2. HIPPA Authorization

In order to make informed medical decisions, it’s also important to include a HIPPA authorization form along with a health care power of attorney. Without it, you would be unable to communicate with healthcare professionals and insurance companies, as well as access your child’s health records and previous treatment information.

3. Durable Power of Attorney (Finances and Property)

Similar to a health care power of attorney, a financial power of attorney gives you the ability to make financial decisions on your child’s behalf, should they be unable to do so themselves. Should your child become disabled for any reason, then you would still be able to pay their rent, credit card bills, utilities, access bank accounts and financial records, as well as manage any loans they may have.

4. Last Will and Testament

While many parents don’t want to think about this topic, especially as their child leaves home, it’s an important one to add to your list. A will allows you to honor their child’s wishes on what should be done with their social media accounts, bank accounts, and personal assets. It also allows your child to specify any funeral arrangements they may like to have.