Young Adult (Child) Protection Plan
Price Range: $449
How can you plan and protect for your adult children when they need you most?
As a parent when your child reaches 18 it is exciting and scary all at once. Legally speaking it has substantial consequences as they are no longer a minor and your ability to make medical decisions, access their accounts, access their medical records, etc legally cease - which often times your children do not understand the seriousness of and potential issues.
The idea that your child could need your help but you are not legally allowed to do so due without going to court, which in times of urgency adds an unnecessary level of stress and delays to an already stressful situation.
One scenario, ::knock on wood::, would be where you receive a call from a first responder that your child is being transported to the hospital. Upon your arrival the nurses and doctors tell you they cannot update you as to what has happened, your child’s current medical situation, and you cannot make decisions as to treatment.
These kinds of situations terrify me as a parent and frustrate me as an attorney - because through planning you can minimize potential future issues.
To minimize future issues your Adult Child should have legal documents prepared to help you protect them should the need arises
Whether your adult child (over 18) will be at home, going off to college, or living away from home - your child may want to ensure you continue to have the legal rights to immediately advocate on their behalf by having legal documents lined up and properly signed of which include:
Medical Power of Attorney - Allow you to act on your child’s behalf to make medical decisions.
HIPAA Waiver/Authorization - Various laws can make it difficult for loved ones to obtain medical information from providers. A HIPAA Waiver signed by your young adult gives you the permission to access their medical records.
Durable (financial) Power of Attorney - Allow you to act on your child’s behalf to make financial decisions
Often times these documents and the need for them are not considered or known until an emergency occurs and the parents of the adult child are left without the ability to access information and advocate on their behalf without jumping through additional legal hurdles when time is of the essence.
With proper legal documents the parents will have the legal right to make medical decisions, access medical records/reports, and access financial accounts as needed.
We offer “Young Adult Protection Plan" services to the community through direct individual representation of the adult child to prepare the legal documents as well a through workshops hosted by families.
An add on option, not included in the “Young Adult Protection Plan”, may be to have a simple will prepared. Although your child may not have assets worth much, but personal items may have sentimental value. And there may be digital assets that so often get overlooked, such as online accounts. Your child may use a Will to ensure these items go to the right person(s).
If you and your adult child are interested in working with our office to create a “Young Adult Protection Plan” call our office or complete the intake form above.