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Do young adults need to choose someone for power of attorney?

On Behalf of | Dec 7, 2020 | Estate Planning

When people in Pennsylvania talk about power of attorney, they’re typically talking about older adults. However, you don’t have to be elderly to have a medical emergency. If you’re a parent, you want to stay updated when your child has a medical condition, but when your child turns 18, that information can be withheld from you even if you’re the one paying for medical bills. Here’s how power of attorney can come into play.

When do you need power of attorney for a young adult?

Anyone can benefit from estate planning, no matter how young they are. For parents, it can be difficult to convince your 18-year-old child to start planning their estate, but if nothing else, you should ask them to consider giving you power of attorney.

Once your child gives you power of attorney, you’ll have full access to their medical information and be able to make decisions on their behalf. Since you’re their parent, your child can count on you to act in their best interests. You won’t have to worry about being shut out of your child’s medical history; you can be directly involved and help your child as best you can.

To be safe, you should ask your child to name an alternate for power of attorney in case you’re unavailable or incapacitated. But overall, when your child gives you power of attorney, you’ll be able to talk to their doctors, discuss their prescriptions, get information about their condition and be there during every step of the process. If your child needs some assistance with estate planning, they might benefit from hiring an estate planning attorney.

Is hiring an attorney worth the cost?

You might pay more up front, but hiring an attorney may save you time and money in the long run. An attorney may help you or your child make a legally binding document that gives someone power of attorney. They might also assist with wills, trust funds, beneficiary selection and other aspects of the estate planning process. Plus, an attorney may help you make the process easier for your loved ones if you pass away unexpectedly.

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