What Documents Do High School Graduates Need for Basic Estate Planning?

Though summer is already over, many Arizona teens are already looking towards a major milestone: high school graduation. As your child steps into adulthood, it’s the perfect time to help them prepare for the new responsibilities that come with turning 18.

Graduating is a big achievement — but it also means your child is now a legal adult. This comes with serious implications: you no longer have automatic authority to make decisions about their healthcare or finances. Without the right legal documents, helping your child in an emergency could become complicated, time-consuming, and expensive.

To avoid unnecessary court involvement and ensure you’re empowered to assist your child if needed, consider having a conversation about estate planning and encourage them to sign these three vital documents before leaving home or heading off to college.

 

1. Medical Power of Attorney

A Medical Power of Attorney (sometimes called a healthcare power of attorney) allows your child to designate someone—often a parent or trusted adult—to make healthcare decisions on their behalf if they become incapacitated.

For example, if your child is seriously injured in a car accident or becomes unconscious, this document lets you legally speak with doctors and make medical decisions aligned with their wishes.

Without a medical power of attorney, Arizona law (along with HIPAA privacy rules) prevents you from accessing your adult child’s medical records or making healthcare choices unless you petition the court to become their legal guardian. That guardianship process can be slow, costly, and stressful.

A properly drafted medical power of attorney includes a HIPAA authorization, which grants immediate access to your child’s medical information—critical for making timely, informed decisions.

 

2. Living Will

While a Medical Power of Attorney gives decision-making authority, a Living Will provides clear instructions about your child’s preferences for medical treatment during end of life.

This document allows your child to express whether they want life support or other interventions if they become terminally ill or permanently unconscious. It can also include details about visitation preferences and special considerations like dietary needs (for example, if they’re vegan or have allergies).

3. Durable Financial Power of Attorney

In addition to healthcare decisions, your child may need help managing financial matters if they become unable to do so themselves. This help can be needed from something fun like doing a graduation trip abroad or a semester abroad.

A Durable Financial Power of Attorney grants you the authority to handle their finances—paying bills, managing bank accounts, handling rent or tuition payments, and applying for government benefits if necessary.

Without this document, you’d have to go through Arizona’s court system to gain control, a process that can take weeks or months.

 

Starting Adulthood on the Right Foot

Helping your child put these documents in place is a powerful way to set them up for success as they enter adulthood. It also protects your family from unnecessary legal hurdles during emergencies.

If you’re unsure where to start or want to ensure these documents are tailored to Arizona laws and your family’s needs, working with a qualified estate planning attorney is a smart move. We can help you and your family navigate these important conversations and get the right paperwork in place.

We are currently offering an exclusive opportunity for our clients to help give their young adult children a headstart on this important next step into adulthood. Feel free to reach out today to discuss how you can protect your child’s future and make sure you have the legal authority to support them when it matters most.