As my son readies for college, my wife and I asked him to sign powers of attorney. We wanted to be able to get details from his doctors when we get that terrifying call at 2:00 a.m. informing us that our son was being rushed by ambulance to the emergency room. Without written authority from your 18 year old, the medical staff can refuse to tell you anything about his or her condition. The risks are very real. Too many 18 to 25 year olds find themselves in tragic accidents or other life-threatening situations. A healthcare power of attorney can appoint parents or guardians as authorized agents to talk with medical staff and make decisions on their behalf if your son or daughter is incapacitated.
In addition to a healthcare power of attorney, we asked our son to sign a general power of attorney. Many parents are surprised to find out that colleges won’t release a student’s grades to his or her parents without one, and there are a number of other benefits to having the general power of attorney. With a general power of attorney, parents or guardians can access all sorts of financial accounts and even help their children change and update certain financial aid forms, sign tax returns, pay bills, settle debts, wire or transfer money from accounts, address lease issues with landlords, and address issues that may come up with social media profiles, if necessary.
Parents and guardians should be empowered, especially when it comes to their still dependent children off at college. No parent or guardian wants to be rebuffed by the nurse at the hospital when calling to find out more information about his or her child, and children often want their parents or guardians to help with financial transactions and matters. These documents are valuable resources for parents and guardians. Don’t wait.