Estate Planning for 18-Year-Olds: What Florida Families Need to Know
Ready or not, changes are coming! One day, you are celebrating their first birthday – smash cake and all, next thing you know you are sending them off to college with tears, well-wishes and memories of their childhood.
Welcome to parenting an adult. Now that your child is 18, legally, everything has changed. As exciting as college is, it also marks the moment your child becomes an adult in the eyes of the law. That means you, as a parent, lose the automatic right to make medical or financial decisions on their behalf.
For young adults in Florida, this makes basic estate planning essential.
Why Estate Planning Matters at 18
As an adult, privacy laws like HIPAA prevent doctors from sharing medical information with you. Similarly, financial institutions won’t allow you access to accounts – even in an emergency.
Without proper documents in place, you could be left unable to help your child when they need you most.
Key Documents Every College Student Should Have
At Three Oaks Law, we recommend a simple but powerful set of documents for young adults:
1. Florida Designation of Health Care Surrogate
This allows your child to appoint you (or another trusted adult) to make medical decisions if they are unable to do so.
2. HIPAA Authorization
This gives you access to your child’s medical information so you can communicate with doctors and stay informed.
3. Durable Power of Attorney
This allows you to assist with financial matters like paying bills, handling banking, or managing unexpected issues while they’re away at school.
4. Living Will
Outlines your child’s wishes regarding life-prolonging procedures. While difficult to think about, it provides clarity and peace of mind.
Florida-Specific Considerations
Florida has very specific legal requirements for these documents to be valid. For example:
- The Durable Power of Attorney must be properly executed with witnesses and a notary.
- Health care documents must comply with Florida statutes to be recognized by hospitals and providers.
Using generic online forms often leads to documents being rejected when they’re needed most. Proper legal guidance ensures everything is enforceable.
A Simple Step That Makes a Big Difference
This type of planning is not about wealth, but rather it’s about access, protection, and peace of mind. It ensures that if something unexpected happens, you can step in immediately without court delays or confusion.
At Three Oaks Law, we make this process simple, efficient, and tailored to your family. Many families can complete everything in a single, streamlined meeting before their child leaves for school.
If your child has turned 18, now is the time to put these protections in place.
Contact Three Oaks Law at 904-397-4444 today to schedule a quick consultation and make sure your family is covered. We are happy to serve you from our South Jacksonville office at 13500 Sutton Park Drive South, Suite 601, Jacksonville, FL 32224 or from our North Jacksonville office at 7308 North Main Street, Jacksonville, FL 32208.