Thousands of students are now off to college, and have brought with them bedding, art, clothes and many other things. One thing they may not have is a legal document called in most places a health care proxy.
Once a person turns 18, his or her parents no longer have the automatic right to be involved in legal and medical decisions they may face, according to a column on the huffingtonpost.com.
A proxy ensures that strangers will not be making those decisions for your child. The proxy designates the person who is empowered to direct and consent to medical care.
It is not a living will in which the person outlines his or her wishes on every conceivable treatment. It simply says the designated person is permitted to make life sustaining treatment decisions.
An attorney may not be necessary to draw up such a document, but if you have an estate planning attorney, you may want to consult with him or her.
If you have questions about estate planning, feel free to contact us for a consultation at (626) 696-3145.
