---
title: "Turning 18: The Documents Families Sign Before College | MCC"
description: "At 18 or in college, a parent's automatic access to education and health records changes. The documents families often sign, what official guidance says…"
url: "https://mcc-solutionsnj.com/students/turning-18"
---

Turning 18

# Turning 18: the paperwork families handle before college

Once a student is an adult, parents don't automatically get access to college records or step in on medical decisions. Many families sign a few documents before move-in.

## What changes

- **School records:** under FERPA, rights move from parents to the student at 18 or when the student starts college, whatever the age. A college may share records with parents if the student is a dependent for tax purposes, without the student's consent; otherwise it generally needs the student's written consent. Many colleges have their own release form.
- **Health information and decisions:** under HIPAA, someone with legal authority to make health care decisions for an adult, such as a health care power of attorney, can act as that adult's personal representative. HHS adds that state law should be consulted on that authority.

## Documents families often sign

- A [health care proxy or advance directive](/notary/documents/living-will-and-healthcare-proxy) naming a parent.
- A HIPAA authorization letting doctors talk with named family members.
- A durable [power of attorney](/notary/remote-online-notarization/power-of-attorney) for finances, so a parent can handle a bank or a lease issue.
- The college's own FERPA release form.

Which documents fit your family, and what goes in them, is a question for an attorney; we can't draft or choose legal documents. Once they're prepared, we notarize them: [at your home in New Jersey](/notary/mobile-notary) or [online by video](/notary/remote-online-notarization) when the documents allow it, with the student and parents each joining from where they are.

## Sources

- [U.S. Department of Education: parent access to an eligible student's education records](https://studentprivacy.ed.gov/faq/must-postsecondary-institutions-provide-parent-access-eligible-students-education-records)
- [HHS: Personal representatives under the HIPAA Privacy Rule](https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/privacy/guidance/personal-representatives/index.html)

General information, checked November 10, 2026. Not legal or medical advice. We are notaries, not lawyers.

## Questions

**Can the student sign online from campus?**

Often, yes, with an online notarization, when the document and the receiving office allow it. Some documents need in-person signing or witnesses; check before you book.

**Can you prepare the power of attorney?**

No. We notarize documents that are already prepared. An attorney can draft and explain them.

## Need a notary? Send it to the desk.

[Book Now](/notary/#order)[Call (908) 444-6373](tel:+19084446373)