Essential Documents for All Including 18+

A Durable POA grants power to the person you name as your "Agent" to make financial decisions, perform financial transactions, access accounts, sign documents, and make other non healthcare-related decisions on your behalf should you need them to.  

It is important to understand the control you are giving to your Agent over your assets  and select that person accordingly.   

The “Durable” part is key here, because it stays in place and means your Agent can make decisions on your behalf even in the unfortunate event you are incapacitated.

A Healthcare Proxy grants power to the person you name as your "Agent" to make medical and healthcare-related decisions for you when you are unable to do so.  Your Agent can decide on doctors and course of care, among other important things when often, time is of the essence.

A Living Will sets forth your specific desires on important decisions such as artificial nutrition and hydration,  other end of life decisions, and even organ donation.  

Your Healthcare Proxy names your Agent, but now your Agent needs access to your medical records and information, which is heavily protected information due to HIPAA Laws. 

Without proper authorization and releases in accordance with HIPAA, the medical professionals overseeing your care are prohibited from releasing, speaking to, or take direction from your Agent. 

According to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), a student is considered eligible if they are 18 years of age or older, or if they are attending a postsecondary institution at any age. When a student becomes eligible, the rights that were previously held by their parents under FERPA are then transferred to the student. Many postsecondary institutions have a proprietary FERPA Release and/or Waiver Form for students to sign and submit back to them.