Cap, Gown, and Powers of Attorney: The College Checklist Item Nobody Talks About

By Associate Attorney Nicole M. Perozzi
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High school graduation season is here! If your child is heading off to college this fall, you’ve probably got a million things to do.  From making tuition deposits, to picking meal plan selections, to buying dorm supplies—the checklist of things to do over the next few months feels never-ending.  However, there’s one important item that most parents do not even realize is missing from their checklists.

Now that your child is 18 years old, you no longer have the legal right to make financial or medical decisions for them.  Colleges won’t discuss academic or financial records with you, even if you are the one paying the tuition. Doctors and hospitals won’t share any information with you about your child’s health, even in an emergency. You may be thinking, “But they’re still on my health insurance!” Unfortunately, it doesn’t matter.

The good news is there are three simple documents that can fix this: a Financial Power of Attorney, a Health Care Power of Attorney, and a HIPAA Authorization.  A Financial Power of Attorney allows your child to appoint a trusted individual to help manage their financial affairs now or if they are unable to do so in the future.  A Health Care Power of Attorney allows your child to appoint a health care agent to make medical decisions for them in the event of incapacity or unconsciousness.  A HIPAA Authorization allows your child to designate individuals to receive health care information about them, regardless of incapacity. Together, these documents ensure that you can still be there for your child when it matters the most.

Getting a Financial Power of Attorney, a Health Care Power of Attorney, and HIPAA Authorization signed before move-in day is easier than you think.  Having a conversation with our team here at Jesson & Rains means one less thing on your checklist this summer.  Plus, you can use this as an opportunity to talk with your child about what to do in an emergency and how you can still be a resource to them, even as they start this new chapter all on their own.  Give us a call!