As the excitement of sending your child to college builds, it’s easy to focus solely on packing lists and dorm essentials. However, as your child steps into adulthood, there are crucial legal documents parents should consider to ensure they can assist their child in times of need. Here’s a rundown of key documents that could prove invaluable during this transition.
Advance Care Directive for Health Care
An Advance Care Directive is vital if your college-bound student faces a medical emergency or crisis and becomes unable to make health-related decisions. This document empowers parents to act on behalf of their child concerning medical decisions, ensuring their wishes are respected even if they cannot communicate them themselves.
Durable Power of Attorney
Having a Durable Power of Attorney is crucial for parents needing to manage their child’s financial or legal matters while away at college. This document enables parents to handle banking, signing important documents, or dealing with legal issues that may arise. It’s flexible and can be activated immediately upon signing, providing peace of mind that financial and legal responsibilities are managed seamlessly.
HIPAA Authorization Form
Understanding health privacy laws is essential when your child is living away from home. A HIPAA Authorization Form allows parents to access their child’s health records and communicate with healthcare providers. This form ensures parents can stay informed and involved in health-related discussions, especially during emergencies. Notably, you can apply a time limit to this authorization, providing flexibility as needed.
FERPA Release
College is as much about academics as it is about personal growth, and keeping up with your child’s academic performance is important. A FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) Release gives parents the ability to discuss grades and other educational information with the institution. Since each college typically has its own form, it’s best to reach out directly to the school to obtain the appropriate document.
As you prepare your child for this significant life change, securing these documents can provide both you and your child with an added layer of security and support. For ease, Mama Bear Legal Forms offers convenient access to many of these forms, simplifying the process and ensuring everything is in place before the big move. While no parent wants to consider the necessity of these documents, having them ready sets the stage for a smoother, more supported college journey.
It’s important to make sure you have the right things set in place in order to start your child’s college journey on the right footing. Get started with a college admissions with a 20 minute discovery call with Marie today.
