08/26/2026
Attention All Parents of College Bound and College Babies…
Sharing an important post from another group.
🚨 PSA FOR PARENTS OF COLLEGE STUDENTS 🚨
I know nobody wants to think about something happening to their child. But here’s something many parents don’t realize:
Once your child turns 18, you may NOT automatically have the legal authority to make medical, financial, or other important decisions for them.
They are legally an adult — even if they’re still on your health insurance, living in your house, or you’re paying their tuition.
If your child is unconscious, seriously injured, hospitalized, or otherwise unable to communicate, you could potentially find yourself in a situation where you’re their parent… but you don’t have the legal authority to make certain decisions on their behalf.
Before your college student heads off to school, consider getting the appropriate documents in place, such as:
📌 Medical/Healthcare Power of Attorney
📌 HIPAA Authorization so designated people can receive certain medical information
📌 Durable Financial Power of Attorney
📌 Advance Directive/Living Will
📌 Designation of a person to make certain medical decisions, where applicable
📌 Will and beneficiary information
📌 Emergency contact information and important account/document information
And please don’t just download a random form from the internet and assume you’re covered. Requirements can vary by state, and some documents need to be properly executed to be effective.
This isn’t about being controlling.
It’s about making sure that if the unthinkable happens, your child has already told the law who they want making decisions for them.
❤️ Have the conversation.
📄 Get the documents.
✍🏽 Have them properly executed.
🗂️ Make sure the right people know where they’re kept.
18 may mean adulthood, but it doesn’t mean your child suddenly stops being your child. It just means the law may require you to have their permission in writing.
Share this with a parent who needs to see it. 👇🏽
