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.
As you’re preparing for your teen’s transition to adulthood, use this checklist to make sure everything goes smoothly after their 18th birthday.
A health care proxy or medical power of attorney is a legal document signed by you and your child indicating that you have the ability to make medical decisions for them if they are unable to communicate their decision. It’s a good idea to work with an attorney to prepare this type of document.
Once your child is 18, their medical providers may require you to sign a HIPAA waiver or medical release form indicating that they can share your child’s medical information with you. Ask your providers if they have a specific form they want you to sign. Otherwise, you can have your child sign a generalized form, like this HIPPA release, to keep on file.
Some medical providers, especially hospitals, require medical authorization much earlier than age 18, even as young as 14, so be aware of the policies at your medical facility.
Supported decision-making is the process of helping your child develop a circle of people they trust to help guide them in making choices about their schooling, finances, personal relationships, and more. Supported decision-making can start when your child is young and will continue throughout their life as they seek counsel from their parents and other trusted adults. It’s typically an informal process, supplemented by the legal documents above.
Some families decide it’s appropriate to have a more formal process in place for helping their children make decisions once they are legally adults. Conservatorship (also called guardianship depending on the state) establishes a person who has the legal authority to make decisions on behalf of a person with disabilities. To learn more about how the process works and factors to consider if limited conservatorship is appropriate for your young adult after age 18, check out our article Conservatorships (Limited and Full) in California.
Your child is eligible to vote once they turn 18. Here’s information on how to help your child register to vote, which is optional.
Male adults are required to register for the Selective Service System between ages 18 and 25. Some states will not provide financial aid if an individual is not registered.
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