As summer wraps up and the kids head back to school or off to start their adult lives, many parents may be facing the proverbial “empty nest.”
For some, this is an exciting time. That bedroom now can be a library, an actual guest room or even a craft room!
For others, it’s a sad time. Your “babies” are grown, and your house feels empty. Or maybe it’s an ambivalent mix of both emotions.
Either way, have no fear; your work is not done. Now, you’ve got some legal documents to consider.
When your child turns 18, they are, for better or for worse, a legal adult. That means you no longer have the right to make decisions for them, nor can you obtain information about them from third parties (schools, hospitals, banks).
This can come as a shock to parents, especially in an emergency. There is a way to avoid this outcome by putting specific documents in place.
First, have your adult children fill out and execute an advance health care directive (also known as a health care power of attorney) and HIPAA form.
The AHCD allows someone to designate the person who will make healthcare decisions for them in the event they are unable to do so. They can also list an alternate in case their first choice is unavailable. The document also provides some guidance for the decisions they’d like made.
If your child lives in California, use the state’s statutory form (last updated in 2019). The form needs either two witnesses who are not named in the...
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