Did you know that the moment your kid turns 18, you lose the legal right to make medical or financial decisions for them? Yep, it's true! Suddenly, you can't just call their doctor or handle their bank account anymore. That's where a Power of Attorney (POA) comes in.

A Power of Attorney is a legal document that allows you to authorize someone to handle specific tasks on your behalf. For example, my wife and I each signed a POA as part of our estate planning. She is authorized to act on my behalf and I hers, should one of us be incapacitated. But honestly, it never crossed my mind that my son would need one too when he hit 18. Thankfully, a friend clued us in, and we got it done.

Now, I'm no lawyer, so I can't give you legal advice. But I can tell you it's worth digging into. Do some research! Google it, chat with a lawyer, and see what you find. If you come to the same conclusion I did, you'll probably want your young adult to sign a POA, giving you the authority to step in for healthcare and financial matters if needed. For me, there is a certain peace of mind in knowing we got this done.

If you and your child decide a POA is the right move, you've got options. You can work with an attorney, or you might find online resources helpful. We used Mama Bear Legal Forms (mamabearlegalforms.com) for a straightforward and reasonably priced process. (Full disclosure: I'm just a happy customer, no affiliation or kickbacks here!) Our friend recommended them, and now I'm passing that along to you.

Remember, a POA needs to be notarized. If you need a notary, I can help!. But the most important thing is to do your homework and make an informed decision about whether a POA is right for your family.