Heather Penning is currently a member in good standing of the Real Estate, Probate, Trust Law and Family Law sections of the State Bar of Texas. Heather is also certified by the State Bar to represent litigants and proposed wards in heirship and guardianship proceedings.
As you look at your newly minted 18-year-old adult child, you probably still see the infant, toddler, preschooler, elementary, and high school kid they once were. You walked with them day by day, you chauffeured them to all their activities, you championed them when they needed it, and went to battle for them when it was called for.
You refereed sibling skirmishes, nursed boo boos, and most importantly, were the keeper of the calendar. You kept track of orthodontist appointments, dentist cleanings, birthday parties, play dates, and doctor visits,
Why Your Young Adult Needs Personal Legal Documents
But maybe you noticed upon their 18th birthday, your online access to their Texas Children’s Chart was denied. This is because when your baby turns 18, your legal relationship with them changes. Once they turn 18, you are no longer their legal guardian, because they are a legal adult.
So, this fall when you send your college student off to college with their bed bug mattress cover, their new XL sheets, and the mini fridge, send them off with one more thing, peace of mind. Know that their legal documents are in place, should you ever need them.
We offer a Young Adult Kit - Personal Legal Documents package
This Young Adult Kit includes all the personal legal documents, everything you would need should your child ever become incapacitated. Imagine your student gets in a car accident on the way home for break and is unconscious. A parent’s worst nightmare! You may have a hard time even finding out which hospital they are in.
Even if you find where they are, the hospital may not talk to you, because your son or daughter is an adult. Per HIPAA, Hospitals cannot legally share protected health care information over the phone with others.
Because each of you are the next of kin, with the same relationship to the young adult, you would need to go to the court and get a guardianship set up.
But even if you navigate that hurdle, and arrive at the hospital, what if you and your spouse do not agree on medical care. You may want to get a second opinion; he may want your young adult moved to a different hospital? If you and your spouse cannot agree, what then?
Take the Guess Work out, Get a Young Adult Kit
What if you are divorced and therefore you and your spouse won’t agree. Because each of you are the next of kin, with the same relationship to the young adult, you would need to go to the court and get a guardianship set up, appointing one of you as the temporary guardian over the young adult.
DON’T get consumed with anguish, don’t waste that time and money. There is a simple solution, the Young Adult Kit. With a little bit of forethought your son or daughter can put personal legal documents in place ahead of time that will protect them. Thus, giving both you and your young adult peace of mind.
Let Penning Law answer all your questions and help you navigate the personal legal documents process for your young adult with a Young Adult Kit.
