Transition to Adulthood: What Happens Legally When My Child Turns 18?

Soon after the challenges of puberty and the excitement of high school, an even larger milestone looms: the 18th birthday. It marks your child’s transition from childhood to adulthood, and with it new responsibilities and rights. From a legal standpoint, this milestone also brings significant changes that every parent should be aware of.

In the eyes of the law, an individual is considered a legal adult at the age of 18. This means that your child gains certain rights and privileges, including the ability to enter into contracts, vote, buy property, and make medical decisions for themselves. While this newfound independence is a crucial part of growing up, it can also pose challenges for parents, especially when adult children need their parents’ help or need someone to make decisions on their behalf.

In this blog post, we’ll explore what happens legally when your child turns 18, what it means for your ability to make legal, financial and healthcare decisions on their behalf, and what tools you’ll need for a smooth transition to adulthood.

How The Law Changes Your Role As A Parent

On the day your child turns 18, your ability to make legal, financial and healthcare decisions for them essentially disappears in a blink. To give you a sense of how impactful this can be, if your now 18-year old or older child is hospitalized and unable to communicate their wishes, healthcare providers won’t even legally be able to share your child’s medical information with you. Similarly, financial institutions won’t permit you to access your child's accounts or make financial decisions on their behalf without their consent - or unless you’re a co-owner of their accounts.

This shift in decision-making authority can feel unsettling and can be particularly challenging if your child is still financially dependent on you, is in a medical emergency, or requires assistance in managing their affairs due to a disability. Thankfully, there are legal tools that can help parents and young adults navigate these new challenges.

Have Their Back With Powers of Attorney

A Power of Attorney is a legal tool that allows your child to designate the person they choose to make legal or healthcare decisions on their behalf. There are two common types of Powers of Attorney that can be valuable in this situation: a General Durable Power of Attorney and a Power of Attorney for Healthcare. 

A General Durable Power of Attorney allows your child to appoint someone to manage their financial affairs in the event they become incapacitated or if they just want help managing their finances. With this in place, you can continue to assist your child with financial matters, even after they turn 18.

The important thing to remember however is that not every financial institution will honor a Power of Attorney, so while every adult should have this legal tool, it’s important to check with your specific institution and possibly set up your child’s accounts in a different way to ensure you have immediate access to them if needed. We’d be happy to discuss which options are best for you and your adult child.

A Power of Attorney for Healthcare grants someone the authority to make medical decisions on your child's behalf if they are unable to do so, such as medication and treatment options, nutritional needs, and life-support measures. This is crucial to ensure that your child receives the care they want, even if they cannot communicate their preferences.

This article is a service of Simpson Law Firm. 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. We offer an Estate Planning session, during which you will get more financially organized than you’ve ever been before and we will assist you in making all the best choices for the people you love. You can begin by contacting us here, https://simpsonestatelaw.com/contact-us or calling us at 803-764-9555, and one of our friendly client service assistants will help you set up your consultation.