I love having 18 year olds in my office. They signal they are listening intently to me by making their eyes wide and keeping them trained on me while I talk, but the slight glaze over the eyeball is obvious as they nod and agree and pretend like they understand everything we’re
talking about.
Now, don’t get me wrong, they DO understand, but they don’t UNDERSTAND. They know that the power of attorney means someone else can access their bank account and get money to pay the landlord if for some reason they can’t do it, but they don’t really get why that matters. They understand that the HIPAA form means everyone they list on it will be able to call the hospital and get information on their condition if they wind up in a car crash far from home, but they don’t really know why we think that might happen. They understand that the FERPA release will let their parents arrange for a leave of absence from their college if a medical emergency lays them low for a few months, but they really kinda think we’re being ridiculously anxious about things that will never happen.
They don’t yet understand that life is unpredictable. They don’t yet understand that the unpredictability can cause problems that last for years if they are ignored. They don’t yet understand that it’s easier to prevent a major problem with a little planning than it is to try and clean up a problem that has grown to an intrusive problem. They don’t understand that one eviction for nonpayment of rent, one default on tuition payments, one medical emergency where an insurance company gets away with denying services that should have been covered can all have far reaching consequences that affect their life and options for years to come.
But parents understand. So every 18 year old client that I have, sitting in front of me while I explain the personal legal documents that every adult should have, has a parent or two sitting in the waiting room, who understand.
It’s easy to book an hour and a half appointment for your young adult to complete all the personal legal documents every adult – even young ones – should have. Give us a call at 833- RED-BOOT (833-733-2668) or email legal@parkercounsel..com Whether you’re in Austin, TX, Western Massachusetts (Amherst, Northampton, Springfield, the Berkshires) or Northern New Jersey.