Watching your child pack up for college is one of life’s proudest (and most emotional) moments. As parents, you have spent years preparing them academically, emotionally, and financially for this next big step. But there’s one piece of preparation that often gets overlooked: legal planning.

Here’s the surprising truth: once your child turns 18, you no longer have automatic authority to step in and help with their medical care, finances, or even get updates from a doctor in an emergency. Legally, they’re an adult. That means if something unexpected happens, you could be left on the sidelines unless certain documents are in place.

Before move-in day, every college student over the age of 18 should have the following documents signed:

Health Care Power of Attorney

Imagine your student is injured in a car accident and can’t speak for themselves. A health care power of attorney allows them to name a trusted person (often a parent) to make medical decisions on their behalf. Without it, you may lose precious time in a crisis going through the court system to obtain legal authority to act on behalf of your adult child.

HIPAA Authorization

Hospitals take privacy laws seriously. Even if you’re the parent paying tuition or health insurance, doctors cannot share your adult child’s medical information with you without their written consent. A HIPAA authorization ensures you’ll be able to get updates if your child is hospitalized or needs urgent care.

Durable Power of Attorney

College life comes with bank accounts, leases, student loans, and sometimes even car accidents. With a durable power of attorney, your student can authorize you (or someone else they trust) to handle financial and legal matters if they’re away or incapacitated. This can be as simple as helping them replace a lost debit card while studying abroad, or as serious as managing bills while they recover from an illness.

Living Will (Advance Directive)

Though hard to think about, a living will or advance health care directive lets your student make their wishes known about life-sustaining treatment in advance. Having their preferences in writing helps spare loved ones from making difficult choices during a crisis.

When Would My College Student Need Estate Planning Documents Like These?

Emergencies happen. A sports injury, a study abroad mishap, or a sudden illness can put parents in a difficult position if they don’t have the legal ability to step in. By signing these documents, your student is making sure you’ll be able to help when it matters most.

Peace of Mind for the Whole Family

Preparing these documents before college is a simple step that brings enormous peace of mind. It allows your child to enjoy their independence while ensuring that, if the unexpected happens, you’ll be able to step in and support them.

💡 Put Estate Planning on Your College Student’s “Back to School” To-Do List: If your son or daughter is heading to college this fall, now is the perfect time to put these protections in place. Contact our office! We’ll walk you and your student through the process so everyone can head into the school year with confidence. If you are seeking assistance with estate planning, probate, adoption, real estate transactions, or business legal questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to the experienced team at Limitless Law PLLC. We're here to help.

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✅ Student Legal Planning Checklist Before College

Before your student heads off to campus, make sure these essential documents are in place:

• Health Care Power of Attorney: Lets a trusted adult make medical decisions if your student can’t.
• HIPAA Authorization: Gives doctors permission to share medical updates with you.
• Durable Power of Attorney: Allows someone to handle financial and legal matters on behalf of your student.
• Living Will / Advance Directive: Clearly states your student’s wishes about medical treatment in an emergency.

💡 Tip: Keep copies of these documents in a safe but accessible place. Give a copy to your student, a parent, and to their school health office (if allowed).