If you’re the parent of a high school graduate this year, congratulations! You’ve put in a lot of time and effort toward earning that diploma, and whatever their next step in life will be, you likely want to protect them just as much as you did while they were still in high school.

But before you pack that kid off to college or just an apartment across town, you need to know that when they leave, they will be taking some of the legal rights you had before they turned 18 with them.

Once a child turns 18, they are no longer considered a child in the eyes of the law. And you no longer have the legal right to access their health care, school or banking records without their permission. Here are some steps you should take before your child leaves the nest that will help ensure your peace of mind and their safety:

CREATE AN ADVANCE HEALTHCARE DIRECTIVE

Once your child is officially an adult, they need to have an advance healthcare directive that will allow you to access their medical records and make medical decisions for them in case they become incapacitated. This is essential in case of an emergency. They will also need to sign a Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) form that allows medical professionals to share information with you.

USE TECHNOLOGY

The American Bar Association released a free app (MYLO) for iPhone and Android that allows you to store an advance directive and other important documents on a smartphone. The app comes stores a PDF version of an advanced healthcare directive and HIPAA form, including the ability to email documents. The app is called Mind Your Loved Ones (MYLO) and is available from the iPhone App Store or on Google Play for Android devices. There are other online solutions that store medical records and allows those to be accessed by medical professionals anywhere in the world. Legally Remote provides this service free to all their clients.

ADD AN ICE APP TO YOUR CHILD’S PHONE

Add an ICE (In Case of Emergency) app to the homepage of your child’s phone that lists your contact information and also create an ICE listing in his or her phone contacts with this information. Your child is much more likely to always have their phone with them than to carry a printed card or document.

This article is a service of Legally Remote, PLLC, your alachua / high springs, floprida, Personal Family Lawyer®. We do not just draft documents; we ensure you make informed and empowered decisions about life and death, for yourself and the people you love. That's why we offer a legacy Planning Session™, during which you will get more financially organized than you’ve ever been before and make all the best choices for the people you love. You can begin by calling our office today. (352) 660-4021