• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Before Header

Your Lawyer through the Lifespan™  774-203-9003

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter

Walecka Law, P.C.

  • About
    • Events
    • Testimonials
  • Blog
  • Practice Areas
    • Estate Planning
    • Elder Law
    • Estate & Trust Administration
    • Estate Tax Planning
    • Long-Term Care Planning
    • Special Needs Planning
    • Guardians & Conservators
  • Estate Planning
  • Elder Law
  • Contact

Mobile Menu

  • About
    • Events
    • Testimonials
  • Blog
  • Practice Areas
    • Estate Planning
    • Elder Law
    • Estate & Trust Administration
    • Estate Tax Planning
    • Long-Term Care Planning
    • Special Needs Planning
    • Guardians & Conservators
  • Estate Planning
  • Elder Law
  • Contact

Schedule a Consultation!

Now is a great time to schedule your intial consultation with Attorney Brandon Walecka to discuss all of your estate planning needs. Please contact us today.

You are here: Home / Estate Planning & Trusts / Estate Planning for Your Young Adult Child

Estate Planning for Your Young Adult Child

August 11, 2021

image_pdfimage_print

By: Brandon C. Walecka, Esq.

Walecka Law, P.C.

774-203-9003

Brandon@WaleckaLaw.com

If you have a young adult child or grandchild, estate planning for them is probably the last thing on your mind.  At this time of year, young adults are heading off to a new and exciting chapter in their lives; college students are packing their boxes and cars to head to campus, military recruits are preparing to head off to boot camp, travelers are seeking new exploration adventures, and others are starting their careers and moving out on their own.  A bright and exciting future is ahead of them.  

For 18 years, you have taken care of your child’s medical and financial needs.  You’ve scheduled doctor’s appointments, waited in emergency rooms, talked and made decisions with health care providers, advised and guided them on major purchases, and financially supported them.  

It seems only natural that you expect to continue to be involved as your children or grandchildren enter young adulthood, but the law does not see it the same way. Once your child turns 18, they are an adult who is independently responsible for their own legal and financial as well as personal and medical decisions. They are an adult whose medical information is personal and private under HIPAA.  In the eyes of colleges, financial institutions, creditors, hospitals, and health care providers, parents are now out of the picture.  

For parents, this lack of information and access can be terrifying.  What if your child is seriously ill or is in an accident? As they are an adult, you may be unable to talk with doctors, get information from the hospital, or make decisions regarding your child’s care and recovery.  If your child falls behind with utilities, gets in a disagreement with their landlord, or needs clarity on a medical bill, typically you are no longer able to be involved.

To avoid these consequences and since often your child may want your help in these circumstances, there are several important, foundational estate planning documents recommended for all adults at any age to understand and complete. These include:

Durable Power of Attorney (DPOA) – This is a legal document in which your adult child/grandchild designates who they want to make legal and financial decisions for them if they cannot make them for themselves.  

Health Care Proxy (HCP) – This is a legal document in which your adult child/grandchild designates how they would want their agent to make their medical decisions if they cannot make them for themselves.  It is only effective when a doctor indicates in writing that your young adult is not able to make medical decisions for themselves.  

HIPAA Release – The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) preserves the privacy of your adult child/grandchild’s medical information.  It prohibits access to their medical information to anyone except themselves.  It also makes it impossible for others to independently assist with medical issues such as insurance inquiries, learning test results, or speaking to a doctor or pharmacy about a treatment or prescription.  With a release, your young adult authorizes the people listed on it to have access to their medical information.  

If you have a young adult child or grandchild you care about, call us today to learn more about Walecka Law P.C.’s Young Adult Special. It is only available to young adults who are between 18 and 24 years of age. The complete package is only $499 and valid through 9/30/2021 so do not delay!  

Do you have a suggestion for a future article topic for Attorney Walecka? Reach out to him directly with a question or topic you think would be helpful to readers.

The information contained in this article is not intended to make you an expert on estate planning nor is this article intended to replace the need for the advice of a professional. Rather, this article is simply intended to provide a basic understanding of why estate planning is important for everybody and a basic understanding of some of the more common estate planning tools. This article does not constitute legal advice.

Filed Under: Estate Planning & Trusts

Looking for immediate answers to your questions?

Schedule a consultation today!

Walecka Law, P.C. is an estate planning law firm to help with all of your estate planning and elder law needs.

You May Also Be Interested In:

Pause Before Signing That Health Care Proxy

We’re Hiring a Paralegal!

Estate Planning This Holiday Season

We Make House Calls!

Forbes Article: IRS Announces Estate And Gift Tax Exemption Amounts For 2023

An Estate Planning Warning For Married Massachusetts Residents Who Are Not US Citizens

Do Not Leave Healthcare Decisions to Chance

Have You Notified Your Homeowners Insurance Company About Your Irrevocable Trust?

What is a Declaration of Homestead Exemption?

Previous Post: « Personal Directives / Living Wills
Next Post: Forbes Article: 3 Estate Planning Documents Every College Student Needs »

Primary Sidebar

Schedule a Consultation!

Now is a great time to schedule your intial consultation with Attorney Brandon Walecka to discuss all of your estate planning needs. Please contact us today to get answers for your family.

GET STARTED

RECENT POSTS

Pause Before Signing That Health Care Proxy

By: Brandon C. Walecka, Esq. Walecka Law, …

We’re Hiring a Paralegal!

Job Description Paralegal needed for a growing solo- estate …

Estate Planning This Holiday Season

By: Brandon C. Walecka, Esq. Walecka Law, …

We Make House Calls!

Here at Walecka Law, we take pride in prioritizing our clients. …

Forbes Article: IRS Announces Estate And Gift Tax Exemption Amounts For 2023

By: Brandon C. Walecka, Esq. Walecka Law, …

Search

Our Popular Topics

Advocacy Durable Power of Attorney Elder Law Estate Planning & Trusts Firm News Gifting Health Care Directive Health Care Proxy HIPAA Authorization Last Will & Testament Long-term care Personal Directive Probate & Trust Administration Special Needs

Footer

Our Practice

  • About
  • Events
  • Blog
  • Practice Areas
  • Estate Planning
  • Elder Law
  • Contact

Our Law Office

Walecka Law, P.C.
774-203-9003

P.O. Box 50992.
New Bedford, MA 02745

Brandon@WaleckaLaw.com

Contact Us

Contact our office today. We are ready to help you. There is no better time than now.
Learn How →

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • About
  • Events
  • Blog
  • Practice Areas
  • Estate Planning
  • Elder Law
  • Contact

Site Footer

Walecka Law, P.C. is an estate planning law firm with expertise in Elder Law and Estate Planning. Please read our Disclaimer.

Copyright © 2023 · Walecka Law P.C.