When your child heads off to college, you’re likely focused on tuition bills, dorm shopping and emotional goodbyes. However, what you may not realize is that Virginia law now recognizes them as a legal adult, meaning you no longer have automatic authority over their medical care, finances or legal decisions. This new chapter in their life isn’t just a milestone for them – it’s your cue to revisit your estate plan and make sure you’re still protecting what matters most.
Review your child’s legal status at 18
Once your child turns 18, you lose your automatic rights as a parent to access their medical records, help manage their finances or step in during an emergency without their permission. That’s where legal tools such as a HIPAA authorization and financial power of attorney come in. These documents give you the authority to help your child when they need it most, whether they’re in the hospital, dealing with a financial issue from school or traveling abroad for a semester.
Update your beneficiary designations and financial accounts
Your estate plan should reflect your child’s new legal status and your current intentions. If you want your child to inherit certain accounts or be listed as a backup beneficiary, now’s the time to update your life insurance, retirement accounts and payable-on-death bank accounts. Virginia’s inheritance laws follow what your paperwork says – not what you meant to do but forgot to update – so your designations must stay current as your family grows.
Revisit your guardianship and health care decisions
If you have younger children, your guardianship plans may still be essential. But for your college-bound child, it’s time to shift your focus to advance medical directives and health care proxies, documents that let you – or someone you trust – step in if your child can’t make medical decisions for themselves. These updates help your estate plan reflect the reality of your family’s life today, not what it looked like years ago.
Plan for tuition, travel and emergencies
College life brings a mix of independence and risk. A durable power of attorney lets you help your child with tuition payments, lease agreements or last-minute travel issues without needing a court’s permission. Emergencies happen fast, and having these legal tools in place allows you to support your child when it matters most.
Keeping your estate plan one step ahead
Life keeps changing, and your estate plan should change with it. Now that your child is stepping into adulthood, this is the right moment to sit down and make sure your plan fits your family’s new reality. When you update your estate plan now, you give your child the freedom to grow and give yourself the peace of mind knowing you’re still protecting them, even from a distance.