Where can I find a checklist of things I need to do before my child turns 18?

Although your teen will continue to rely on your support into their young adult years, they become a legal adult at the age of 18. This means the state may not let you as the parent make decisions for them, so it’s important to know what paperwork to file so that you can continue to stay legally involved in your child’s schooling, finances, medical decisions, and other important aspects of their life to support them as they continue to develop their skills for independence.

Here are some of the main tasks to check off your list as their 18th birthday approaches:

• Sign documentation to stay involved in the IEP process
• Sign documentation for medical authorization
• Sign documentation for financial authorization
• Decide how to stay involved your young adult's decision-making
• Help them get a photo ID

For more information about each of these tasks, see our full article Legal Tasks to Complete before Your Child Turns 18. You can also find more step-by-step guidance in our transition to adulthood goal: