Is Legal Planning Necessary for High School Children?

Tue, 07 Jan 2025 21:16:42 GMT

Is Legal Planning Necessary for High School Children?

Nov. 4, 2019

If you are the parent or legal guardian of a recent high school graduate this year, congratulations! If you have a child that will be graduating in the next school year, you have a very exciting school year ahead! I know this is an extremely busy time for your family. As parents, you have raised and nurtured your children for the last 17 years, preparing them to enter the world as an independent and successful adult. Even though they are leaving the nest in some form or fashion, you will still want to protect them just as much as you did when they were living at home.

There are many things that you have been through or are planning for… from prom to graduation parties. Then there is sending them to college, into the workforce, or off to their next adventure. Before they are out the door, there are legal issues you may want to address with them.

Actually, for some, it may need to be addressed while they are still in high school. Once your child turns 18, they have a whole host of legal rights. Yes, they can vote. They are no longer considered a child legally. What does that mean? Well, it means you, as their parent, no longer have a legal right to access their health care, school or banking records without their permission. Loss of this kind of parental control may prove to be frustrating if you are still paying the bills. However, it could also have a severe impact in case of an emergency. There are some steps you can and should take with your child when they turn 18 to help ensure their safety and your peace of mind. Create an advance healthcare directive.

Let’s say, theoretically, your child, now a legal adult is in a serious accident, has a health emergency or is for some reason incapacitated. If they are rushed to the emergency, you will not be notified. Why? Because technically they are a legal adult and you may be estranged. They will need to have an advance healthcare directive and an authorization for release of medical records (HIPAA) for you to be notified if something happens, to view medical records, make medical decisions and speak to their healthcare providers.

Create a Financial Power of Attorney

Now let’s say, theoretically, your child, now a legal adult is unable to take care of their financial responsibilities because they are incapacitated. Designating you as their financial power of attorney allows you to pay their bills, manage their bank accounts, etc. until they are able.

Add an ICE App to Your Child’s Phone

There are free apps for their phones that they can download and list you as their primary contact In Case of Emergency (ICE). This app should be on their front home page.

Contact Us

You don’t have to pay us to attend a class to learn how to protect your children. We offer a free one-hour consultation ($250 value) to identify the best ways for you to protect your family. It can be for your legal, or about to be legal, child, as well as the rest of your family. We will help you put a plan in place to protect your child now and well into the future.

Review the Responsibilities of Becoming an Adult with Your Child

Have a conversation with your child about the responsibilities and consequences of turning 18. Whether it is going to college or entering the workforce, your son/daughter is going to be presented with new situations and opportunities that high school simply did not prepare them for. This may include things like opening a school bank account or applying for a credit card.

Are Your Parents Okay to Live Alone?

dannel@townsquaredigital.com (Dannel Albert) — Tue, 07 Jan 2025 20:57:33 GMT

Are Your Parents Okay to Live Alone?

Nov. 4, 2019

8 Signs That Your Aging Parents Aren't Ok To Live Alone Anymore

The holidays bring scattered families together - giving adult children the perfect opportunity to closely inspect how aging parents are managing. It's not by chance that calls to Independent Living, Assisted Living and Memory Care communities spike just after the holidays. This is when families detect hints of trouble or see catastrophes on the horizon.

So while you're enjoying the festivities of the season, take time to investigate the following eight potential signs of trouble. Remember, it's better to be proactive than reactive in a crisis!

THE 8 SIGNS

1. Show your LOVE with a big hug.

LOOK FOR:

Obvious weight loss. Depression, cancer or even difficulty grocery shopping & cooking can be behind a noticeable loss of weight.
Increased frailty. Pay close attention to the way your loved one walks (do they shuffle more?), and moves (do they rise easily from a chair or have trouble with balance?) Compare these benchmarks to the last time you were together.
Obvious weight gain. Injury, diabetes, and dementia might be the cause. Money troubles that lead to fewer fresh foods and result in more dried pasta and bread can also be culprits.
Strange body odor. Changes in personal grooming habits, due to memory issues or physical ailments, might be noticeable on very close inspection.

2. Rifle through the mail.

LOOK FOR:

Unopened personal mail. Everybody leaves some junk mail untouched, but few of us can ignore a good old-fashioned, hand-addressed letter.
Unopened bills. This can be a sign that your loved one is having difficulty managing finances - one of the most common first signs of dementia.
Letters from banks, creditors, or insurers. They may be a routine business. But it's alarming if they're referring to overdue payments, overdrawn balances, recent accidents, or other worrisome events.
Thank You messages from charities. Older adults are often vulnerable to scams, and even those who have always been fiscally prudent are vulnerable. If they're having cognitive difficulty (a common sign of Alzheimer's disease.) Some charities hit up givers over and over, and your loved one may not remember having donated the first time.

3. Take a drive with Mom and/or Dad behind the wheel.

LOOK FOR:

Nicks or dents as you enter and exit the car. These can be signs of careless driving or a decrease in vision.
Does your loved one fasten his or her seatbelt? Basic routines are not always remembered by someone with mild dementia.
Signs of driving issues. Tailgating, slow reaction time, consistently going below the speed limit, or confusing gas and brake pedals are signs to watch for. See #8 for more ways to assess someone's driving.
Dashboard warning lights. Does the car have sufficient oil, gas, antifreeze, windshield-wiper fluid?

4. Inspect the Kitchen-Refrigerator to Counter to Cupboards.

LOOK FOR:

Perishables past their expiration dates. Your loved one might be buying much more than he or she needs, but you want to be sure there's a reasonable ability to ditch the old stuff (rather than use it.)
Multiples of the same item. Ten bottles of ketchup or a dozen different kinds of vinegar might indicate he or she can't remember from one shopping trip to the next what is still in the cupboards at home.
Appliances that are broken and haven't been repaired. Check the microwave, coffeemaker, toaster, washer, and dryer — any device you know your parents used to use routinely.
Signs of a past fire. Look for charred shove knobs or pot bottoms, potholders with burned edges, a discharged fire extinguisher, smoke detectors that have been disassembled. Accidents happen, but accidental fires are a common home danger for older adults.
Increased takeout or simpler cooking. If someone who used to cook a lot no longer does or has downshifted to extremely simple recipes, the explanation could be a change in physical or mental ability.

5. Look around the living areas.

LOOK FOR:

Piles of clutter. Especially if this is a change for your loved one, being unable to throw anything away may be a sign of a neurological or physical issue. Papers that spill onto the floor are a particular tripping hazard.
Cobwebs, signs of spills that haven't been picked up, or other signs of housekeeping that's more lax than it once was. Spills are a common sign of dementia; the person lacks the follow-through to clean up after a mess. Or your loved one may have physical limitations and simply need more housekeeping help.
Bathrooms that are not clean. Often those who make an extra effort to tidy for guests in main rooms neglect the bathroom, where a truer picture of how the person is keeping up with things may be reflected.
Signs that your loved one has cut back on activities and interests. Is a hobby area abandoned? Are there no longer engagements written on the hall calendar? There are many reasons people cut back, but a dramatic loss of interest in activities is a red flag for depression.

6. Inspect how house plants or animals are being cared for.

LOOK FOR:

Plants that are dying, dead, or just gone. How well another life is looked after may reflect how well your parents can look after their own lives.
Animals that don't seem well-tended. Watch out for dogs with long nails, cat litter boxes that aren't changed routinely, dead fish in the fish tank, or any animal that seems underfed or poorly groomed.

7. Walk around the grounds.

LOOK FOR:

Signs of home maintenance problems. Look for discolored siding or ceilings that might indicate a leak, gutters choked with leaves, broken windows or fences.
Newspapers in the bushes. Check for papers that were delivered but ignored.
Mail piled up in the mailbox. Watch for this indication that your loved one doesn't know to retrieve it regularly.

8. Talk to those in your loved one's circle: Ask neighbors, church family, and friends.

LOOK FOR:

Comments that reveal your loved one doesn't get out that much. "We don't see her much lately.", "She doesn't call anymore." , "She quit coming to the Senior Center."
Statements that reflect that your loved one has complained about health or needs extra assistance getting basic chores done. "Has he had that heart test yet?" "We were worried the day the ambulance came."
Indications of concern in their voices. Listen for comments about your loved one; about his or her health, pets, anything.

garyfallenattorneyatlawfarmington

Is Legal Planning Necessary for High School Children?

Is Legal Planning Necessary for High School Children?

Create a Financial Power of Attorney

Add an ICE App to Your Child’s Phone

Contact Us

Review the Responsibilities of Becoming an Adult with Your Child

Are Your Parents Okay to Live Alone?

Are Your Parents Okay to Live Alone?

8 Signs That Your Aging Parents Aren't Ok To Live Alone Anymore

THE 8 SIGNS