Your Teen Just Turned 18… Now What? A Parent’s Checklist for Peace of Mind

Turning 18 is a major milestone—for both your teen and for you as a parent. While your son or daughter may still feel like “your baby,” the law now sees them as an adult. And with that comes an often-overlooked reality:

Once your child turns 18, you no longer have automatic legal authority to help them in an emergency.

If your young adult were in an accident, hospitalized, or needed help managing finances, school, or medical decisions, you could be left powerless—unable to access information or step in on their behalf.

This is why planning before they leave for college, move out, or start their next chapter is so important.

Below is a simple checklist to help parents prepare, protect, and support their newly-minted adult.

1. Understand How the Law Changes at 18

At age 18, your child becomes an independent legal adult. That means:

• You cannot access medical records or speak with their doctors
  
• You cannot manage their finances or sign legal documents for them
  
• Schools cannot share academic information with you
  
• You cannot automatically step in during a crisis
  

Without the right documents, parents often face confusion, delays, and legal roadblocks at the very moment their child needs them most.

What Can Go Wrong Without a Plan?

Without proper authorization in place, parents may experience:

• Delayed notification if their child is hospitalized
  
• Denied access to doctors or medical decisions
  
• No ability to help manage finances, student accounts, or housing issues
  
• Difficulty retrieving passwords, phone access, or digital information
  
• Possible need to go to probate court to obtain conservatorship just to help
   

2. Put Key Legal Documents in Place

Every young adult should have these core documents:

Document	Why It Matters
HIPAA Authorization	Allows parents to speak with doctors and access health updates.
Advance Healthcare Directive	Names medical decision-makers and outlines care wishes if they cannot speak for themselves.
Durable Power of Attorney	Lets a trusted adult assist with finances, housing, banking, or legal matters.
FERPA Release	Allows parents to speak with the college and access academic records.
Last Will & Testament	Helps clarify wishes for personal property and online/digital asset

These documents ensure that you can still be your child’s helper, guide, and advocate when life happens.

3. Plan for Digital + Communication Access

Today, so much of your child’s life is online. Consider preparing:

• A secure list of passwords or a digital vault
  
• Instructions for access to phone, laptop, and social media accounts
  
• Preferences for digital legacy (photos, accounts, information)
  

Many parents never think about this—until it’s too late.

4. Create an Emergency Plan

Your child should have an actionable plan they can follow if something goes wrong, including:

• Who to call first
  
• Insurance information
  
• Essential contact list
  
• Emergency medical preferences
  
• Backup decision-makers if parents can’t be reached
  

Plus—keep copies of all documents in an easily accessible emergency system, not buried in a drawer.

5. Consider a Comprehensive Young Adult Emergency Plan®

To simplify this process, many families choose a complete bundled solution such as the Young Adult Emergency Plan®, which includes:

• All essential legal documents parents need to step in
  
• An emergency action plan
  
• Digital storage and instant access
  
• Legal guidance from a law firm that supports you along the way
  

This ensures your young adult is protected—at home, at school, or across the world.

Final Thoughts for Parents

Your role may be shifting, but your love and responsibility as a parent never ends. Preparing these documents isn’t about control—it’s about protection, safety, and peace of mind.

Giving your young adult the gift of preparation is one of the most meaningful ways to support them as they step into adulthood.