Happy 18th Birthday! Now What Changes Legally?
Turning 18 makes your child a legal adult, which means your authority to make decisions for them ends unless you plan ahead.
Legal Adulthood Brings New Rights, and New Gaps
At 18, a young adult gains the right to vote, sign contracts, and make their own medical and financial decisions, but parents simultaneously lose the legal authority they had while their child was a minor. Without the right documents in place, parents can be locked out of medical updates during an emergency or unable to help manage finances while their child is away at college.
Planning Ahead for the Transition to Adulthood
HIPAA authorization
- Lets doctors share medical information with parents
- Useful in emergencies away at school or traveling
- Signed voluntarily by the new adult
Powers of attorney
- Healthcare power of attorney names a decision-maker if incapacitated
- Financial power of attorney allows a parent to help manage accounts
- Both can be limited in scope and revoked at any time
18th Birthday Legal FAQs
Can I still see my adult child’s medical records without authorization?
No. Once your child turns 18, HIPAA protects their medical privacy, and providers cannot share information with you unless your child has signed an authorization.
Do these documents expire?
They can be written to last indefinitely or for a set period, and your child can revoke or update them at any time since the documents are theirs to control.
Is this only relevant for kids going to college?
No. Any 18-year-old benefits from having these documents in place, whether they’re heading to college, starting a job, or staying at home.
Related Reading
Helping a New Adult Plan Ahead?
Let’s put the right authorizations in place before they’re needed.
Managing Partner and Co-Founder, McIlveen Family Law Firm. Angela is a Board Certified Specialist in Family Law, certified by the North Carolina State Bar Board of Legal Specialization, and an experienced family law trial attorney who represents clients across North Carolina. She personally reviewed this page for legal accuracy.
