A child turning 18 presents a turning point for families, making it important for them to have key documents in place before an emergency occurs. Turning 18 changes many things for parents, says a recent article, “5 key legal documents every young American adult needs,” from Reuters. Parents lose automatic access to make health care and financial decisions for their child unless they take steps to have certain documents in place.
The documents are straightforward. However, they need to be prepared by an experienced estate planning attorney. They include a durable power of attorney, which would allow the parent to take charge of financial matters if the child couldn’t make decisions themselves.
The other critical document is the healthcare power of attorney, which works in the same way in healthcare situations, allowing the parents to be involved with medical decisions and speak with medical professionals.
A HIPAA Authorization is also needed, which allows the release of medical information to the named person. It doesn’t give the person the ability to make decisions and act on their child’s behalf. This lets the parent have access to medical records and other information.
A living will is a difficult document to imagine when looking at an 18-year-old just getting ready to start their college career. Howwever, it is necessary. This lets the named person make decisions concerning end-of-life care.
While you’re having these documents prepared, it may make sense to have a last will and testament prepared. Even an 18-year-old owns something, whether it’s a bank account, cryptocurrency, or a car. Having a will allows parents or adult siblings to take care of distributing any property in the event of the child’s premature death.
Every situation is different, which is why talking with an estate planning attorney is so important. A child who has an inheritance from a grandparent, or one who is named as a beneficiary from a trust, will need a different kind of will than one who only owns a bank account.
Every state has different requirements for these documents, so you’ll want to be sure your documents will work if your child attends school out of state.
These are the obligations of adulthood, which may seem onerous for a young adult. However, as a parent, it’s your responsibility to be sure your children understand the importance of having these documents. It’s a lot like having car insurance. We hope not to need it, but when we do, we’re glad to be prepared.
Reference: Reuters (July 15, 2026) “5 key legal documents every young American adult needs”