Written by: Matthew Heiligenthal, CTFA, ATFA, CES – Trust Administrator
It is one of parenting's stranger surprises. The day your child turns 18, the law sees them as a full adult – and you, as a parent, quietly lose the automatic right to step in. Even if you pay the tuition and carry them on your health insurance, you may not be able to speak with a doctor in an emergency, see a medical record or check a single grade.
Most families discover this at the worst possible moment: a late-night call from a hospital or a semester slipping off course. A little preparation before move-in day solves it. Four simple documents, signed by your young adult, keep you able to help when it matters most.
- A Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) authorization lets doctors and hospitals share your child's medical information with you. Without it, privacy law can leave providers unable to tell you anything – even right after an accident.
- A health care power of attorney (HCPOA) (sometimes called a health care proxy or advance directive) names you, or another trusted adult, to make medical decisions if your child cannot. In many states, this document includes the HIPAA permission as well, so one form covers both.
- A general durable financial power of attorney (GDPOA) lets you handle practical matters – a frozen bank account, a lease, an insurance or tuition snag, a tax form – if your child is incapacitated or simply unreachable while studying abroad. The term "durable" means it stays in effect even when they cannot act for themselves.
- A Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) release gives the school permission to discuss grades, tuition, and financial aid with you. Each college has its own form, usually available through the registrar's office.
None of these are heavy or expensive to put in place, and a document valid in your home state is generally honored wherever your child studies. Without them, helping in a true crisis can require a court-supervised guardianship – slow, costly, and entirely avoidable.
These documents are usually one piece of a larger family picture – education funding, a young adult's first accounts, and, where one exists, a trust set aside for their benefit that our team administers on the family's behalf. Heading off to college should feel like independence, not isolation. When you're ready, your relationship manager and our wealth management team are glad to help you fit these pieces together, so your child can step fully into adulthood while you stay close enough to help if life takes an unexpected turn.
For more information, please visit PrairieTrust.com or reach out to me directly at (262) 408-1016 or mheiligenthal@prairietrust.com.
The information provided is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. You should not rely on this information as a substitute for obtaining legal advice from a licensed attorney. For advice regarding your specific situation, please consult with your attorney or other qualified legal counsel.