Graduation season is here. Whether your child is heading to college in the fall, starting a trade program, joining the workforce, or taking another path into adulthood, one important legal change happens the moment they turn 18.
They become a legal adult, and parents lose the automatic right to step in during a crisis.
That means you may not be able to access medical information, speak with doctors, make healthcare decisions, or handle financial matters for your child without the right legal documents in place. The Young Adult Package from Surprenant, Beneski & Nunes helps families prepare before an emergency happens.
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Before adulthood, parents generally have authority to make medical decisions, access health information, and act on behalf of their minor child. After age 18, that authority changes.
Even if your child is still on your health insurance, living at home during breaks, or relying on you for tuition, housing, transportation, or other support, they are legally an adult. If they are hospitalized, injured, seriously ill, or temporarily unable to communicate, you may face legal and privacy barriers when trying to help.
The Young Adult Package helps create a legal safety net for your child. It allows them to choose trusted people who can receive information, make decisions, and manage urgent matters if they cannot act for themselves.
This package is designed for young adults who are turning 18 or beginning a new stage of independence.
It may be a good fit for young adults who are:
- Leaving for college or university
- Starting trade school, vocational training, or an apprenticeship
- Entering the workforce
- Moving away from home
- Taking a gap year
- Traveling for school, work, or service
- Beginning to manage their own finances
A healthcare proxy allows your young adult to name a trusted person to make medical decisions if they become unable to speak for themselves.
If your child is in a serious accident or medical emergency, a healthcare proxy gives the named person authority to communicate with medical providers and make decisions based on your child’s needs and wishes.
Without this document, doctors may not be required to follow a parent’s instructions. In some situations, families may need court involvement before anyone has clear authority to act.
A HIPAA authorization allows your child to give specific people permission to receive medical information and speak with healthcare providers.
This matters because federal privacy laws can prevent doctors, hospitals, and other providers from sharing information with parents once a child turns 18. Even a concerned parent calling from home, campus, or another state may be denied updates without proper authorization.
A HIPAA authorization helps ensure the right people can stay informed if something happens.
A durable power of attorney allows your child to name a trusted person to handle financial and legal matters if they are unable to do so.
For a young adult, this can include issues involving bank accounts, tuition, lease agreements, financial aid, bills, insurance, or other time-sensitive matters. If your child is temporarily incapacitated, someone may need to step in quickly to sign documents, communicate with institutions, or prevent missed deadlines.
This document can help families avoid delays and court filings during an already stressful moment.
Parents often view the Young Adult Package as a graduation gift because it supports their child in a meaningful, useful way.
If your child is injured, hospitalized, or unable to manage urgent matters, you do not want to spend that time dealing with legal barriers. You want to be able to help. These documents make that possible by giving you the authority your child has chosen to provide.
This planning is not about control. It is about making sure trusted family members can step in when help is needed most.
For young adults, signing these documents is an act of independence. They decide who they trust, what authority they want to give, and who should be involved if an emergency happens.
The Young Adult Package does not limit their freedom or decision-making. It creates a backup plan. Whether they are heading to a university campus, starting a trade apprenticeship, moving into a first apartment, or beginning a career, these documents help them take ownership of their next stage of life.
Many grandparents also see value in helping a grandchild enter adulthood with important legal protections already in place.
If you are helping pay for college, supporting trade school training, contributing to a first apartment, or planning future gifts through your estate plan, you have likely invested a great deal in your grandchild’s future. The Young Adult Package can be a meaningful way to support that transition by helping ensure trusted family members can step in if an unexpected medical or financial emergency arises.
At Surprenant, Beneski & Nunes, we help families across Southeastern Massachusetts and Cape Cod prepare for important life transitions. With offices in Easton, Hyannis, New Bedford, and Plymouth, we work with parents, grandparents, and young adults who want practical legal documents in place before they are needed.
If your child is turning 18, graduating, leaving for school, starting a trade program, or entering the workforce, now is the time to put these protections in place. Contact Surprenant, Beneski & Nunes to learn more about the Young Adult Package, or complete our online intake form to get started.
