"Documents You Need When a Child Turns 18" is a recent article by the Wall Street Journal, and it reinforced a belief Bergstrom Attorneys has embraced: estate planning is relevant to everyone, regardless of age, health, or wealth. The fact is, an 18-year-old is no longer a child, and in many respects parents lose their rights in decisions or information concerning their adult child, whether it relates to an emergency or report cards.

In summary, the article recommended the following for parents of 18-year-olds:

Typically parents contact us to request powers of attorney as part of their own estate plans. We consider it our job as their lawyer to advise them of often overlooked legal issues, including estate planning services tailored for their 18+ year-old dependent child. It's common for our clients to respond by saying their child is young and healthy, but they soon appreciate how estate planning is contingency planning to prepare for the unexpected, including those cases when a child, who might legally be an adult, still needs to count on mom or dad in an emergency. It would be tragic if parents were denied the possibility of helping their child because they lacked the legal documents described in this informative article.

Contact Bergstrom Attorneys to discuss your need for an estate plan for each member of your family.