Back to School!
Back to School Estate Planning: Because Nothing Says “Have a Great Semester!” Like Legal Documents. Ah, back-to-school season. That magical time when parents everywhere are purchasing overpriced textbooks, crying tears of joy (or relief), and suddenly realizing their “baby” is old enough to sign legal documents. If your young adult is heading off to college or your older student is returning to campus, here’s what you should consider adding to your backto- school checklist—right between “shower caddy” and “industrial-sized coffee maker.”
The Healthcare Power of Attorney: For When “Mom, I’m Fine” Isn’t Cutting It. The moment your child turns 18, HIPAA crashes the party like an overzealous bouncer. Suddenly, you can’t access their medical information without permission—even if you’re footing the bill for their health insurance. Consider getting a Healthcare Power of Attorney and HIPAA release. That way, when they call you at 2 AM with “a weird rash” (it’s always a rash), you can actually talk to their doctor. Without it, you’ll be standing in the ER parking lot, legally helpless and stress-eating vending machine pretzels.
The Financial Power of Attorney: Because “Can You Venmo Me?” Has Limits. Your college student will master the art of requesting money transfers, but what happens if they can’t communicate due to an emergency? A Financial Power of Attorney lets you handle their affairs when they can’t—like paying rent, managing student loans, or explaining to their landlord why there’s a mysterious charge from “Ultimate Frisbee Championship Weekend.” Think of it as adulting with training wheels. They’re independent, but you’ve got a legal backup plan that doesn’t involve panic and creative problem-solving.
Update Your Own Estate Plan: The Kids Aren’t Kids Anymore. Remember when you created your estate plan and named your sister as guardian “just in case”? Well, little Timmy is now 20, has a questionable beard, and can legally buy lottery tickets. Time for an update. Review beneficiary designations, trustee appointments, and those guardianship provisions that are now hilariously outdated. Your adult children might even serve as successor trustees or healthcare agents for you now. Circle of life, people.
The Living Will: Nothing Says “I Love You” Like End-of-Life Wishes. Yes, it’s morbid. Yes, it’s uncomfortable. But so is having no idea what your loved one would want during a medical crisis. A living will outlines healthcare wishes if they can’t communicate them. Think of it as the ultimate “respect my choices” document. Plus, it’s probably the only homework assignment where they won’t complain about the page length.
Have “The Talk” (No, the Other One). Before they leave, sit down and have an honest conversation about these documents. Let them know where everything is stored—ideally not in a random drawer under expired coupons and that warranty for a 2008 toaster oven. Make it casual. Over pizza. Pizza makes everything less terrifying.
The Bottom Line. Estate planning documents might not be as exciting as dorm decorating or picking a major (for the third time), but they’re infinitely more useful than that $80 textbook they’ll never open.
So, this back-to-school season, add “adult legal documents” to your shopping list—right next to Command strips and ramen noodles. Your future self will thank you. Your student will probably just say “whatever, Mom,” but deep down, they’ll appreciate it. Probably. Eventually. Maybe by graduation.
