We all know that the most fun part of getting ready for college is the shopping. The new bedding, storage, decor, and supplies are tangible evidence of this new beginning. There is another important aspect to this life transition that is definitely less fun, but will feel like an accomplishment nonetheless.

It’s tempting to procrastinate on updating all of your teen’s paperwork before they leave for college, but it really needs to get done before you drop them off at their dorm. Once they are living the campus life, you’ll never nail them down long enough to get through the tasks. These paperwork updates are necessary to make sure that if you need to, you can still take responsibility as the parent of your young adult child.

What Paperwork Should be Updated Before Leaving for College?

Once your teenager turns 18, they become a legal adult, and your authority is severely diminished. Of course, you are probably still providing for your child in many material ways. But in the eyes of the law, you need permission to be involved in their personal business.

That permission is at the heart of updating paperwork for college. In reality, your child is not fully independent. They will still need your guidance and even supervision during this period of development. They also need an advocate. Moving away from home and into the college environment increases many of their risks. If something happens to incapacitate them, your legal authority to speak on their behalf allows you to continue protecting them.

Not all of what I refer to as paperwork will involve printed pages. Some of these designations can be done online. What’s important is that you and your child are on the same page about how it will all work.

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

This is the law that requires a parent to have permission to access an adult student’s education records. Even if you are paying the tuition bill, your child must give you permission to view their grades or speak with academic advisors, school officials, and professors. Review your child’s admissions materials to see where to access this.

Powers of Attorney

A General Power of Attorney allows you to act on your child’s behalf if they become incapacitated. This is important for any child living away from home, but especially if your child is moving out of state. The general power of attorney authorizes you to handle medical, financial, and legal matters. A Durable Power of Attorney means that you are only granted this authority if your child is incapacitated, so it is not a blanket extension of legal control over your child’s affairs.

Account Contacts

If you will still be supporting your child financially, being an account contact can make that easier. For bank accounts, they can authorize you as a contact, or you could share a joint account. This allows you to transfer money, make deposits, and sign checks. As a contact on other accounts like credit cards, loans, or utilities, you can make payments and view account activity. I advise setting up clear boundaries in this category. It’s one thing to offer support and guidance as they learn to be financially independent. It’s quite another to prevent them from learning the lessons of making financial mistakes.

Life Insurance

Young people rarely think about life insurance. And parents really don’t want to have to think about such things for their children. But if the worst thing really does happen, life insurance prevents financial devastation. One way to think of it is as a gift. Parents can purchase the policy and pay for it during their child’s college years. Once the young adult is fully on their own, the policy can be transferred to them, and they have that coverage in place. 

Frame Paperwork as the Business of Adulthood

The paperwork aspect of preparing for college is not only boring, but it can also create conflict. Try to frame this discussion and process in terms of it being a new adult responsibility for your child. They may be inclined to think that this is a way for their parents to keep exercising control just as they are getting out on their own. To avoid that sentiment, explain the practical reasons for getting these items in order. Share your own documents as an example that you have these protections in place for yourself as well. Approach this topic as a rite of passage so that your child sees it as a mature business matter over which they have some agency.

If your child’s college preparation process has been overwhelming and disorganized, it’s not too late to regroup. I work closely with teens and their families to help them navigate the transition from high school to college and beyond at any stage of the process. Have your child book a free strategy session with me, and we’ll get you ready for your first big day.