Those of you who were reading my blog a year ago…. go have a cup of tea.

The rest of you…. pay attention.

There's a good chance you know a kid who just turned or is about to turn 18. You may be attending her high school graduation in a few weeks. Guess what… that kid is or is about to become a legal adult. That means Mom and Dad have NO legal right to access her financial information, school records, or talk to her doctor.

So? You may shrug.

Well, what if there's an emergency? What if Suzy is involved in a car crash and gets seriously injured? Who will have the right to deal with the auto insurer? Medical insurance? Sue the other driver? Tell the college that she'll need to take a leave of absence? Unless Suzy has signed a durable power of attorney, a health care proxy, and a medical information (or HIPAA) release… no one. If Suzy's injuries leave her in a coma, the hospital may not listen to the parents unless there's a health care proxy in place — forcing them to go to court to seek a guardianship.

Or… what if Bobby is still in school and receiving special education services? Under federal law, the parent's right to advocate for Bobby and approve the education plan dies at age 18 unless Bobby signs a power of attorney authorizing the parent to engage in such matters, Bobby is legally on his own and at a distinct disadvantage in negotiating for his schooling.

Most attorneys will prepare these documents for a modest fee. Just make sure that it gets done.