Back to School

It's that time of year- students are returning to school. Many college and graduate school students may find themselves moving many miles away from home. It is important to consider some of the legal issues that may arise, especially with these potential long distances.

There are two documents that parents and students may find useful: a Durable Power of Attorney and an Advance Health Care Directive. A Durable Power of Attorney would allow students to appoint someone to make financial and business decisions for them if they are unable or unavailable to make them for themselves. There are times where a parent or family member "back home" may need to make decisions or sign paperwork on behalf of a student. A Power of Attorney would make this possible (and much easier).

An Advance Health Care Directive allows individuals to appoint someone to make health care decisions if they are unable to make them for themselves. Students may want to leave a copy of this document with their respective student health centers in order to clarify who would make day to day health care decisions for them.

Although many students would not have a need for these types of documents, it is a great (and simple) insurance policy in case the need should ever arise.