When a child turns 18, parents lose the legal authority to make decisions on their behalf — even if that child is still in high school or about to head off to college as a dependent. Many parents are surprised to learn that once their child becomes a legal adult, they can no longer access their child's medical records, speak with doctors in an emergency, or make financial decisions for them without proper documentation in place. ## What Every Family Should Have Before College **A Health Care Proxy.** This document allows your child to designate you (or another trusted adult) to make medical decisions on their behalf if they become unable to do so themselves. **A HIPAA Authorization.** Without this, healthcare providers cannot legally share your child's medical information with you — even in an emergency. **A Durable Power of Attorney.** This allows you to manage your child's financial and legal affairs, such as signing documents, handling bank accounts, or dealing with a landlord, if they are unavailable or incapacitated. ## Why This Matters Every year, parents are caught off guard when a college-age child is injured or hospitalized and they are told they have no legal right to information or decision-making authority. These documents are inexpensive, straightforward to execute, and can prevent significant stress during an already difficult time. ## Getting Started The Law Offices of Tracy R. Field PLLC helps New York families put these documents in place before the school year begins. Contact us to schedule a consultation for your family.