Your little one turned 18! Planning Steps you should take

Written By John Boyle

Kids grow up fast — one moment you’re buckling them into a car seat, and the next you’re packing up the car for college. When I went off to college in 1995, the only thing I remember doing was registering for the draft. Today, turning 18 involves a few more legal and practical steps. Privacy laws, medical regulations, and financial realities mean your child is now legally an adult — and it’s wise to plan accordingly.

Let’s start with some legal and identification documents

  • Register to vote (if a U.S. citizen): You can do this online or at the DMV in most states.

  • Update or obtain a state ID/driver’s license:
    Ensure the ID is valid and reflects the correct legal address.

  • Apply for a passport (if you don’t have one): Useful for travel and as an extra form of ID.

  • Register with Selective Service (for U.S. males): Required by law, you should ideally register within 30 days of 18th birthday.

Something else to think about are health & personal records

  • Sign HIPAA release and medical authorization forms: Once your child turns 18, parents/guardians no longer automatically have access to medical records. A signed release is needed for you to receive information or speak with doctors in an emergency.

  • Consider a health care proxy or medical power of attorney:
    This allows someone to make medical decisions if your young adult is unable to.

  • Review health insurance coverage:
    Confirm if they’ll remain on a parent’s plan, enroll through school or work, or need marketplace coverage.

  • FERPA waiver (optional): If your young adult is attending college, signing a FERPA waiver allows parents or guardians to access academic and financial records. This can be helpful for tuition, billing, or academic planning, but is entirely the student’s choice.

Legal and Emergency Planning

  • Consider basic estate planning:

    • Health care proxy / medical power of attorney

    • Durable power of attorney

    • Simple will (optional, especially if you have assets or dependents)

  • Create a list of emergency contacts and keep key info accessible.

This isn’t financial advice — just a reminder of how time and compound interest can work for young investors.

Let’s say your 18-year-old invests $1,000 once and earns an average 9% annual return over 42 years. By their 60th birthday, that single investment could grow to over $43,000.

If they also contribute $25 a month (or $300 a year) starting at age 18, the total could exceed $186,000 by age 60.

Encourage your child to explore resources like Investor.gov’s Compound Interest Calculator and to speak with a financial professional before investing.

Turning 18 marks a major milestone — not just for your child, but for your whole family. Laying this groundwork now helps protect them legally, medically, and financially as they step into adulthood.

If you have questions about preparing health care proxies, powers of attorney, or simple wills for your young adult, I’d be happy to help.

Contact John Boyle, Attorney at Law

John Boyle