09/09/2026
Your daughter turned 18 last month. Legally, you’re now a stranger to her doctor.
At 18 your child is an adult, which means:
→ The hospital can refuse to tell you anything
→ You can’t access her bank account or handle an insurance claim
→ You can’t make a medical decision if she can’t
→ The school won’t discuss grades or her account with you
Being her parent — and paying the tuition — doesn’t change any of it.
Three documents fix it:
1. Healthcare power of attorney
2. HIPAA authorization
3. Durable financial power of attorney
One appointment. Do it before you need it — once there’s an emergency, the only route left is a court proceeding.
Call us before the semester gets away from you.
Smith Law Group, LLC — serving Connecticut families. 860-310-1414
*this does not constitute legal advice and is for informational purposes only.
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