As she points out in her article titled, Estate Planning for Your Eighteen Year Old: What You Need to do Now May Surprise You, Lauren Keenan Rote points out that becoming an adult comes with certain privacy rights and independence under the law.
An eighteen year old has rights under HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) and medical professionals will require a release to be signed by your child before sharing his health care information or records with you.
In the event your child is incapacitated, even temporarily, he will be unable to consent to you accessing his vital health records or authorize you to make decisions on his behalf. Without Medical Powers of Attorney and General Durable Powers of Attorney for Property, you will likely find that you are unable to act on your child’s behalf and that court intervention is required for you to do so.
There are two critical documents any individual over the age of eighteen should have:
Contact an estate planning law firm for further information.