In light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it is now more important than ever for families to be ready for anything that might happen when their young adult children are away from home. When a child turns 18, their parents are stripped of the authority to make financial and medical decisions on their behalf. That is why this is the time to prepare a Power of Attorney and Health Care Proxy.
A Power of Attorney is a legal document that allows a designated agent (in this case, a parent) to make financial decisions on someone’s behalf if necessary. This document, which can be written to fit a person’s specific needs, can allow parents to access their child’s personal bank accounts or pay bills on their behalf if the child were to become incapacitated.
A Health Care Proxy is a legal document that authorizes a parent to make medical decisions on behalf of their child. Without a Health Care Proxy, parents will not have the authority to make medical decisions for their child in the event of an emergency. Parents may not have the authority to communicate with doctors, access their child’s medical records, or even be informed of their child’s medical status.
These legal documents may be the most important things a young adult child can bring with them to college. In an emergency, no parent wants the added stress of having to petition a Court for the right to act on behalf of their child. Prepare these documents today.
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We are happy to arrange for video or phone conferencing to assess what documents are best for you and your child. Let us help you make the right decision today!
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Serving families in NY & NJ