What is the best age to start your estate plan? We get asked this question so often we've created a special start-up kit called Adulting Essentials: 18 & Over
Adulting Essentials: Legal Must-Haves for Every 18 Year Old
Your child is turning 18 and heading out into the world, maybe off to college, maybe starting a new job, maybe starting a business. It's a huge milestone, and let's be honest – exciting, nerve-wracking, and a little surreal. Parenting becomes a tricky balance of guiding them towards autonomy while keeping them safe and supported.
One question we hear from parents all the time: “When should my child start their estate plan?” The answer? Now.
That's why we created Adulting Essentials: 18 & Over. A simple, smart, and affordable legal start-up kit designed just for young adults and their families. It is part the of Schluter & Hughes Continuum LifePlan SM, designed to help make your legal journey smoother. It is a custom estate plan that allows for growth, change, and the unexpected. And starting at $800, the estate planning start-up kit makes an exceptional graduation gift.
Why Does This Matter Now?
Once your child turns 18, they're legally considered an adult. That means you, as a parent, no longer automatically have access to their health information, school records, or even the right to step in during a crisis.
Even though you want to continue to help support your child in their “adulting”, you are now limited in what you can do to guide their decisions. Up until this point, decisions have been made under your supervision and limited to their contained environment of friends, school, activities, and dreaming about their future.
At age 18, the future becomes the present with independence of decision making medically, financially, educationally and socially. This new stage of life transitions to a different type of parenting style. A style that allows the child to step into their new authority, with the parent being available to guide, provide advice, or support at their request.
Let's break down what you need and why — so you and your adult child are both prepared, protected, and at peace.
HIPAA Authorization
If your child ends up in the hospital or needs medical care, doctors won't be able to talk to you unless they've signed a HIPAA release.
This form allows you to speak with healthcare providers and access medical information — and yes, your adult child can still choose to keep some things private if they want.
Think of it as a safety net, just in case the unthinkable happens.
Patient Advocate / Health Care Power of Attorney (HCPOA)
This is a very important document. A Patient Advocate/Health Care Power of Attorney lets your adult child choose someone, often a parent, to make medical decisions for them if they're unable to do so.
It's a hard conversation, but an important one. And yes, it's better to have it now, when things are calm and not during a crisis which requires probate court involvement.
Durable Power of Attorney (DPOA)
If your adult child gets sick, travels abroad, or just needs help handling finances, a Durable Power of Attorney lets you step in and handle legal and financial matters on their behalf.
It's a practical tool that can cover everything from renewing a driver's license to paying rent or sorting out bank issues. Without this document, probate court involvement is almost a guarantee.
Also Worth Considering:
Living Will: Outlines what medical treatments your child would or wouldn't want in serious situations.
Basic Will: If they have a car, savings account, or other assets, it's not too early to create a simple will.
Insurance Check: Make sure your family's health, auto, and renters' insurance covers them while they're away.
ID and Documents: Ensure your child has access to their Social Security card, passport, and any important contact info or medical records.
FERPA Waiver :Wondering how your student's grades are looking? You're not alone. But thanks to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), once they're 18 or in college, even if you are footing the bill, their educational records are private unless they give you permission. With a FERPA release, your adult child can authorize the school to share grades, financial records, and academic progress with you. Each college has its own version of this form, usually available through their portal or registrar's office.
Other Legal Issues to Be Aware Of
Let's be real — young adults make mistakes. Here are some common situations where legal support may come into play:
Driving infractions (speeding tickets, license issues)
Substance violations (MIP, DUI, OWI)
Civil liability (accidents, contracts, or disputes, even without criminal conduct)
We're Here For You and Your Newly Minted Adult
While we hope your child never needs legal help, it's good to know what could come up and how to be prepared. Getting started is easier than you think. And the peace of mind? Completely worthwhile!
Our Adulting Essentials 18 & Over package includes all three foundational documents; HIPAA Authorization, Patient Advocate/ Health Care Power of Attorney (HCPOA), Durable Power of Attorney (DPOA). We can customize everything based on your family's needs.
It's Graduation season!
The most appreciated gifts aren't the flashiest ones, they're the ones that last forever.
Whether your child is already packing for move-in day or just thinking about their next steps, we're happy to walk you through what they need (and don't need).
Get in Touch
We will show you how to get started. Call for a free consultation.
Download Adulting Essentials 18 & Over
SCHLUTER & HUGHES LAUNCHES ‘ADULTING ESSENTIALS' TO HELP THOSE 18+ NAVIGATE LEGAL AND FINANCIAL CHANGES
The new toolkit provides parents and young adults clarity, protection, and
peace of mind following the major milestone of becoming a legal adult
BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich. (May 12, 2025) – With the fun, excitement, and celebration of graduation season, it's easy for parents to overlook the major financial and legal changes that come with their child turning 18. As far as the law is concerned, he or she is now a legal adult, meaning parents no longer automatically have access to their child's health, education, and financial records – or even the right to step in during a crisis.
That's why the Schluter & Hughes Law Firm, PLLC, a multi-faceted estate planning law firm, created Adulting Essentials: Legal Must-Haves for Every 18 Year Old. The simple legal start-up kit helps families plan for the unexpected.
“As legal professionals who are parents ourselves, we realized so many families simply don't know how critical this is – or what to do – often until they're facing a crisis,” said Dawn Schluter, Attorney & Counselor at Law. “We're working to make the journey smoother by simplifying the process, walking people through it, and creating custom estate plans that allow for growth and change.”
There are three foundational documents families should have in place, including:
● HIPAA Authorization – If an 18+ year-old ends up in the hospital or needs medical care, doctors won't be able share information unless they've signed a HIPAA release. The document allows parents to speak with healthcare providers and access medical information. The young adult can still choose to keep some things private if they'd like.
● Patient Advocate/ Health Care Power of Attorney – This important document lets an 18+ year old choose someone to make medical decisions for them if they're unable to.
● Durable Power of Attorney – If an 18+ year old gets sick, travels abroad, or needs help handling finances, a Durable Power of Attorney lets a parent step in and handle legal and financial matters on their behalf.
Other things to consider include a living will, a basic will, a waiver to check college grades, insurance, ID and document checks, and more.
Laura S., a banking professional from Sterling Heights, used the Adulting Essentials program with her two children, Anthony and Isabella, as they reached 18. She says she's glad she did.
“It gives me real peace of mind knowing we have everything in place if something unexpected happens,” Laura says. “You don't think about how dramatically things really change at 18, sometimes until it's too late — this made it so easy to get everything taken care of and my kids were so glad we all went through this process together.”
“It's one of those things you hope you never have to use,” she added. “But in the unfortunate situation where you do – it's so much better to have all of these decisions made in advance and all of the proper documents ready.”
Isabella, 26, says she is grateful her mom had the foresight to begin the process early.
“Honestly, getting these legal documents together gave me a sense of security,” she says. “It's something they don't teach you in school. It gave me an appreciation for getting organized. And it sort of spiraled - motivating me to get everything in order.”
These steps are especially important to consider before young people move away to college. The estate planning kit starts at $800 and can be customized to meet each family's needs.
“Parents want the best for their children but many may not even be aware of these major changes that literally happen overnight,” said Kristin Hughes, Attorney & Counselor at Law. “We want to help ensure everyone is prepared. Our starter kit is a simple gift that can make a dramatic, life-changing, and long-lasting difference.”
