College Forms Checklist: Make Sure You’re Not Forgetting Anything Important

by | Sep 6, 2023 | Estate Planning, Estate Planning Education

college forms

For many people, college is the first time they’ll be away from home for any length of time. Since most college students are over 18, they are no longer legally minors and their parents are no longer empowered to make important decisions on their behalf. Since so many college students are essentially living on their own, they will not only be responsible for their day-to-day lifestyle, but will also have to deal with any unexpected emergencies that might crop up. Being prepared for all possibilities is a must for any student, and ensuring that your college forms are all in order is probably the most essential step you can take.

The Most Important College Forms

When a student goes away to college, they’re often in a brand-new position: having recently been entirely under the care of their parents, they’re now more or less responsible for themselves. Therefore, if something should happen to the student, particularly if they should become incapacitated and unable to make their own decisions, it’s important that they make their wishes known legally ahead of time.

Here are the most important college forms to fill out:

  1. Medical Power of Attorney. A medical power of attorney is a document that allows you to empower another person to make healthcare decision on your behalf, should you become incapacitated or otherwise unable to make these decisions yourself. Once a person turns 18, their parents or guardians no longer have the legal right to make these decisions, so a medical power of attorney is essential to ensure that a trusted individual is deciding the student’s healthcare decisions in an emergency.
  2. Durable Financial Power of Attorney. A durable financial power of attorney is similar to a medical power of attorney except instead of naming an individual to make healthcare decisions for you, you empower the individual to make financial decisions on your behalf. Signing a durable financial power of attorney allows the student’s guardian to manage their finances and negotiate any legal issues that might arise if the student should become incapacitated.
  3. Living Will. The living will is a document that provides specific directions about how a person wants their healthcare to be handled if they can no longer make their own decisions. While the medical power of attorney empowers someone to make decisions on your behalf, a living will guides them in how they should best act to fulfill your wishes.

Resources

Please take advantage of our online form resources that we have available. Here you can find, organize and fill out any form you need to accomplish your goals.

 

Contact the Elder Law Attorneys at Deliberato Law Center

If you have any questions about filling out your or your child’s college forms, do not hesitate to contact the experienced attorneys at Deliberato Law Center. Give us a call today at 216-341-3413 or fill out the form below to get started.