Powers of Attorney For Students Returning to College

As your child heads off to college this fall, he or she should have certain legal documents in place. Any child over 18 years of age should have a valid Medical Directive, including a Living Will, HIPAA Authorization, and Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care, as well as a Durable Power of Attorney for property and finance.

In Missouri, once your child turns 18, he or she legally becomes a stranger to you.  You, as a parent, have no more right to obtain medical and/or financial information about your child than you would a complete stranger. For example, if your college student has a medical emergency and is hospitalized, medical providers will not talk to you about your child’s condition. In addition, you can no longer make medical decisions on your child’s behalf in the event of incapacity. You won’t be able to obtain information that may be necessary to pay medical bills or submit claims even if you pay for his or her health insurance. In the eyes of the law, you are a complete stranger.

Bottom line: you don’t stop being a parent just because your child goes off to college. Make sure you can obtain critical medical, legal, and financial information by having your child execute legal documents naming you as agent to act on his or her behalf.  Legacy Legal Group offers discounted rates for college-bound children, giving you one less thing to worry about as you say goodbye.