Heading off to college checklist

Congratulations!!! Your kid is going off to college. Here is a comprehensive list of documents for heading off to college, and things to consider for this major milestone in your child’s life. Here’s a few things to keep in mind:

• Once your child turns 18 years old, they are no longer a minor
• You can no longer obtain or make medical decisions on their behalf without written authorization from your child.

Talk with your child and have a plan in place to help you get some peace-of-mind as you send them off to college.

{FREE PRINTABLE} Comprehensive list of documents for heading off to college

FERPA Release

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act is designed to protect college students’ privacy. However, it can leave parents locked out in an emergency. A properly worded release allows school officials to talk with you and release your child’s records to you.

HIPAA Authorization

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act was designed to protect a patient’s privacy. Consider having your child sign an authorization so that—just in case—any necessary doctors can talk to you about your child’s condition, care, and treatment.

Durable Financial Power of Attorney

This is a legal document that allows you to take care of your child’s checking or savings accounts, pay bills, etc., if your child is unable to. Regardless of the matter—whether due to illness or even just location (for example, if the school is on the other side of the country).

Advance Healthcare Directive/Power of Attorney for Healthcare

Like the financial version, this allows you to handle medical decisions for your child if your child is unable to do so.

A Will

At first glance, this may seem a little silly for the average broke college kid. In our digital age, there are some hidden complexities. For example, on average, an email account today is tied to 130 or more online accounts, each with their own username and password. Does your child have thoughts about who should manage their email accounts? Social media? Who would receive valuable gaming accounts, and close down other apps and accounts? It’s also a great time in your young adult child’s life to instill responsibility by encouraging them to think about planning in the long term.

Open a Joint Bank Account

This joint account will allow you to deposit money to make available to your child. It can assist with expenses and allow your child to have a debit card in case they need one.

Create Venmo or Paypal Account

Check with your child to see which online payment platform they use. This will give you another ability to get them funds quickly if needed.

Emergency Wallet Card

Print out an emergency wallet card and fill it out with your information and phone number to be contacted in case of emergency and any other medical information necessary for your child. Make sure your child carries it in their wallet.

Phone Number Exchange

When your child gets to college, have them give your name and phone number to their roommates/friends at school. And vice-versa, have your child check with their roommates/friends at school to see if they are okay sharing their name and phone number with you. This allows your child’s roommates/friends at school and you to communicate if their is ever an emergency with your child.

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