Sending your child off to college is an exciting milestone.
Are your college-aged children heading to a nearby campus like UT Austin, Texas State, or Trinity University? Or are they venturing farther for their bachelor’s degrees at Texas A&M University or Rice University?
For Texas parents, sending a child to college is exciting but also brings some worry. College life means new independence and adult responsibilities, like handling leases or housing.
Many overlook estate planning, but a power of attorney (POA) supports your child’s new independence.
Once they turn 18, privacy laws shift, and your parental access is limited.
A power of attorney is a legal document that lets you act on your child’s behalf if financial or legal problems come up.
It lets you help in an emergency, like accessing medical info or handling finances if they’re abroad. This authority is especially valuable for handling important issues like financial aid, legal documents, or housing agreements.
Here are the top five reasons every Texas parent of a college student should consider setting up a POA.
1. Handling Medical Emergencies
College students can encounter various health challenges, from unexpected illnesses to sports-related injuries, which may require immediate medical attention. Texas is like most of the United States. At 18, privacy laws like HIPAA stop parents from accessing their child’s medical information without permission.
Picture this scenario. Your child at the University of Texas at Austin experiences a severe injury during a weekend sports game. Or perhaps she develops an unexpected medical condition.
Without a medical power of attorney, doctors may not be able to inform you about your child’s condition.
A medical POA gives you the legal right to talk to healthcare providers. You can make decisions if your child can’t and advocate for the best care possible.
A durable power of attorney allows you to act in emergencies. It helps you manage healthcare choices and support your child’s well-being. You’ll have peace of mind knowing you’ll stay informed if something happens.
2. Managing Financial Responsibilities
College life often involves navigating financial responsibilities, from tuition payments and bank accounts to student loans and scholarships. A financial power of attorney grants you access to manage these matters if your child needs assistance or is temporarily unavailable to handle them independently.
Suppose your child, a student at Texas State University in San Marcos, is studying abroad for a semester. While they’re away, unexpected financial issues arise—such as a tuition payment deadline or a banking error that requires immediate attention.
With a financial POA, you could address these issues directly, paying bills, transferring funds, or even resolving loan matters without requiring your child’s direct involvement from halfway around the world. This authority to act can be crucial for full-time and part-time students alike, including international students who may face additional challenges while abroad.
A financial POA makes it easy to support your child in managing their finances, whether they’re studying abroad, facing an unexpected issue, or simply need backup in managing their budget. It provides flexibility and security for both you and your student.
3. Addressing Housing and Lease Agreements
Living off-campus often involves handling leases, landlords, and housing agreements—tasks that can be challenging for students who are new to these legal responsibilities. A POA enables you to assist with these matters if any issues arise that require legal authority to handle.
For example, consider your child is a student at Trinity University in San Antonio, renting an off-campus apartment with friends.
Midway through the year, they have a conflict with the landlord over a maintenance issue that’s now escalating. You realize you need to step in to help resolve it.
With a financial or general power of attorney, you can communicate directly with the landlord or property management company to negotiate terms. You can also address lease violations, or even help with necessary payments in urgent situations. A POA also comes in handy when dealing with real estate leases or securing accommodations for higher education needs.
4. Accessing Academic Records in Certain Situations
Many parents assume they’ll still have access to their child’s academic records after they go off to college, but privacy laws restrict this unless a student provides written consent. While a power of attorney doesn’t automatically grant you access, it can help facilitate situations where your involvement is needed.
Take a situation like this: your child is overwhelmed by their course load at Texas A&M University. They need help navigating the registration process to drop or add classes, which may impact their eligibility for financial aid or scholarships.
While some universities allow limited parental involvement, others may not discuss academic records without permission. With a POA, you can provide guidance and, if needed, communicate with the university on your child’s behalf during the four or more years required for many bachelor’s degrees. A POA document doesn’t give blanket access to records but allows you to assist with academic or administrative hurdles more effectively.
5. Simplifying Legal and Financial Matters in Emergencies
Emergencies—whether they involve finances, legal matters, or unexpected issues like theft or loss—often require immediate attention. A POA document allows you to step in legally to handle these matters quickly, ensuring you’re not caught in red tape during a high-stress situation.
Let’s say your child’s personal belongings are stolen from their apartment in Austin. If the stolen items included important financial information or identification documents, a financial POA would allow you to help manage credit card cancellations, insurance claims, and any banking issues that need resolving without delay.
In emergencies, time is of the essence. Having a POA in place lets you act quickly on your child’s behalf, managing issues that would otherwise leave them vulnerable and stressed.
Secure Your College Student’s Independence with Peace of Mind: Take the Next Step with Power of Attorney
As Texas parents, sending your child off to college is both exciting and a little nerve-wracking. You want them to thrive on their own, but you also want the reassurance that you can step in when they need support. Setting up a power of attorney for your college student is a smart step toward ensuring they have that support, no matter the situation.
Whether it’s handling medical emergencies, managing finances, addressing housing issues, or navigating unforeseen legal challenges, a POA gives you the legal authority to step in when it counts. Types of powers of attorney, such as a durable power of attorney or a specific power to act on financial matters, help clarify the scope of the attorney in fact’s responsibilities.
Setting up a power of attorney with Hailey-Petty Law Firm gives you, as a trusted family member, the ability to assist your college student in a time of need. Schedule a consultation today, and let’s secure your child’s college journey with the peace of mind you both deserve.